How does Henry VIII maintain power while breaking away from the Catholic Church and destroying monasteries and churches?

Henry VIII maintained power by creating the main Catholic believes in England. He separated from the church and created his own religion. His church was known as the Church of England. It was similar to the Roman Catholic church except it was not ruled by the pope. Henry was head of this church which gave him even more power. In his new church he was allowed to divorce his current wife Cathrine of Argon so that he could marry a woman that would produce him an heir. Parliament also help keep Henry in control. They passed the ;laws and made sure all church decisions passed through the king. All contact with the Roman Catholic Church was forbidden. The king was the head of his church and anyone who didn't fallow him and recognize that he was the church leader was executed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII_of_England#Separation_from_Rome:_1533.E2.80.931540.).

Henry had a large amount of power over everyone in England when he had his wife Anne Boleyn executed she made a speech. She said, "'Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that, whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never" (http://englishhistory.net/tudor/prianne3.html). Henry could do whatever he wanted in England and the people could not stop him.

Source:

"Henry VIII of England." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 11 May 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII_of_England#Separation_from_Rome:_1533.E2.80.931540.

"Primary Sources: Anne Boleyn's Speech at Her Execution, 1536." EnglishHistory.net. Web. 12 May 2010. http://englishhistory.net/tudor/prianne3.html.

Picture source:

"File:Henry-VIII-kingofengland 1491-1547.jpg." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 11


May 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Henry-VIII-kingofengland_1491-1547.jpg.