Cranmer and King Henry VII
	A chance meeting with advisors of Henry VIII in 1529 brought Cranmer to the attention of the king. Henry charged Cranmer with obtaining scholarly opinions regarding the status of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon (previously married to Henry’s late brother). Cranmer received wide scholarly support for Henry’s annulment request. When the Pope continued to refuse to decide on the status of Henry’s request, the king assumed leadership over the Church in England.