 Following the marriage , there was a period of consolidation taking the form of a series of statutes of the Reformation Parliament aimed at finding solutions to any remaining issues , whilst protecting the new reforms from challenge , convincing the public of their legitimacy , and exposing and dealing with opponents . Although the canon law was dealt with at length by Cranmer and others , these acts were advanced by Thomas Cromwell , Thomas Audley and the Duke of Norfolk and indeed by Henry himself . With this process complete , in May 1532 More resigned as Lord Chancellor , leaving Cromwell as Henry 's chief minister . With the Act of Succession 1533 , Catherine 's daughter , Mary , was declared illegitimate ; Henry 's marriage to Anne was declared legitimate ; and Anne 's issue was decided to be next in the line of succession . With the Acts of Supremacy in 1534 , Parliament also recognised the King 's status as head of the church in England and , with the Act in Restraint of Appeals in 1532 , abolished the right of appeal to Rome . It was only then that Pope Clement took the step of excommunicating Henry and Thomas Cranmer , although the excommunication was not made official until some time later . 
