Final answer:
In 1534, the Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church, was created when Henry VIII broke away from the Roman Catholic Church. Henry's decision was driven by his desire to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. The Anglican Church retained many Catholic practices while incorporating elements of Protestantism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Break from the Roman Catholic Church and the Formation of the Anglican Church
In 1534, under the reign of Henry VIII, England saw a major religious transformation when it broke away from the Roman Catholic Church. This break was primarily due to Henry's desire to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon, and marry Anne Boleyn in his quest to secure a male heir which the Roman Catholic Church prohibited. As a result, Henry VIII, advised by Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Cranmer, pushed the English Parliament to pass laws that established the king as the spiritual head of the nation, thus creating the Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church. Despite Henry's establishment of a separate church, the early Anglican Church retained much of the Catholic ritual and structure while introducing elements of Protestantism. The transformation continued under Henry's son, Edward VI, who introduced more Protestant reforms such as allowing priests to marry and the publication of the English-language Book of Common Prayer.
The Church of England's unique identity was characterized by a blend of Roman Catholicism and emerging Protestant beliefs, which fluctuated with the religious inclinations of subsequent monarchs. While Henry VIII dissolved monasteries and appropriated their wealth, he preserved much of the church's Catholic character, which was altered during his son's reign. This hybrid religious nature would later prove contentious, with groups like the Puritans seeking further reformations to purge all elements of Catholicism from the Anglican Church.