Was Henry VIII really a Protestant or did he just want to limit the Pope's power?

During Henry's reign, Protestantism grew in England.

• Thomas Cromwell (Henry's chief minister), Anne Boleyn and Catherine Parr, two of Henry's wives seem to have been Protestants.
• His son Edward had Protestant teachers and he was brought up as a Protestant.
• The Bible was translated into English (1539).
• However, towards the end of his reign Henry passed the Six Articles (1539) which meant the Church remained Catholic. Protestants who denied the Catholic faith were persecuted and even burned.

Despite being Head of the Church in England, Henry never became a Protestant himself.

The only reason he did not follow all of Catholcism is because the religion did not allow him to have a son. Yet, he still considered himself as Catholic not Protestant. 

A Summary of the Reformation

Attempts to reform (change and improve) the Catholic Church and the development of Protestant Churches in Western Europe are known as the Reformation. 

The Reformation began in 1517 when a German monk called Martin Luther protested about the Catholic Church. His followers became known as Protestants. 

Many people and governments adopted the new Protestant ideas, while others remained faithful to the Catholic Church. This led to a split in the Church.