Who initiated the English Reformation?

The English Reformation was initiated by King Henry VIII, who sought to create a separate church in England that was not subject to the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. The catalyst for Henry's decision was his desire to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, which the Pope refused to sanction. This personal motivation led to the larger political and religious movement within England to reform the Church.

Henry's actions in establishing the Church of England marked a significant shift in religious authority and practice in the country. He enacted the Act of Supremacy in 1534, declaring himself as the "Supreme Head" of the Church of England. This act formalized the break from the Catholic Church and paved the way for England to follow its own religious path, which included a reformation of practices and beliefs distinct from Catholicism.

While other figures, such as Thomas Cranmer, Martin Luther, and John Calvin, played vital roles in the overall Reformation movement across Europe, it was King Henry VIII's personal and political motivations that specifically sparked the English Reformation.