<P> The formal history of the Church of England is traditionally dated by the Church to the Gregorian mission to England by Saint Augustine of Canterbury in AD 597 . As a result of Augustine 's mission , Christianity in England , from Anglican ( English ) perspective , came under the authority of the Pope . However , in 1534 King Henry VIII declared himself to be supreme head of the Church of England . This resulted in a schism with the Papacy . As a result of this schism , many non-Anglicans consider that the Church of England only existed from the 16th century Protestant Reformation . </P>
<P> The formal history of the Church of England is traditionally dated by the Church to the Gregorian mission to England by Saint Augustine of Canterbury in AD 597 . As a result of Augustine 's mission , Christianity in England , from Anglican ( English ) perspective , came under the authority of the Pope . However , in 1534 King Henry VIII declared himself to be supreme head of the Church of England . This resulted in a schism with the Papacy . As a result of this schism , many non-Anglicans consider that the Church of England only existed from the 16th century Protestant Reformation . </P>
who started the church of england and why
who started the church of england and why
King Henry VIII
King Henry VIII