Separation of Church of England (1534). The Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church, is the established Christian church in England. Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon in 1509. The Church of England wouldn't exist for another two decades. At this point, England was firmly Catholic. Henry became King of England in 1509. He remained Catholic for many years but would later play a pivotal role in the establishment of the Church of England. Henry sought an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon from Pope Clement VII in the early 1530s. the Pope's refusal was a key factor leading to the separation of the Church of England from the Catholic Church. Thomas More became Chancellor of England in 1515 under Henry. He was a devout Catholic and opposed the separation from Rome. Henry began his relationship with Anne Boleyn sometime in the mid-1520s. Her presence is considered a factor in Henry's desire to annul his marriage to Catherine. Henry appointed Thomas Cranmer as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1532. Cranmer supported Henry's separation from Rome and played a key role in establishing the Church of England. Pope Paul III became Pope in 1534, after Henry had already declared himself Supreme Head of the Church of England. Paul III excommunicated Henry VIII in 1533. The Church of England has a rich history and has played a significant role in the development of English art and culture. One of the most prominent ways in which the Church of England has promoted art is through its architecture and decoration. Many of the Church of England's cathedrals and churches are renowned for their Gothic and neo-Gothic architecture, which is characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and elaborate ornamentation. The interiors of these buildings are often adorned with stained glass windows, intricate carvings, and other decorative features that reflect the Church's theological and liturgical traditions. The Church of England has also been a significant patron of visual art, commissioning works from some of the most renowned artists of the day. During the Renaissance, for example, the Church commissioned works from artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger and Albrecht Dürer, who produced portraits of prominent Church figures and religious-themed paintings. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Church commissioned works from artists such as Edward Burne-Jones and Stanley Spencer, who produced large-scale murals and other decorative works for Church buildings. In terms of how the Church of England has been portrayed in art, there are a number of notable examples. One of the most famous is the Holbein portrait of Henry VIII, which depicts the king holding a scroll inscribed with the words Defender of the Faith, a title bestowed upon him by the Pope for his defense of Catholicism against the Protestant Reformation. Other notable portraits of Church figures include those of Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury who played a key role in the English Reformation, and Elizabeth I, who established the Church of England as the official state church. In addition to portraiture, the Church of England has also been depicted in a variety of other artistic genres, including landscape painting, stained glass, and illuminated manuscripts. These works often reflect the Church's theological and liturgical traditions, as well as its role in English society and culture.