Thomas Cranmer, who had been appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1533, played a crucial role in the tumultuous marriage of King Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn. Henry was desperate for a male heir and sought to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, which had been declared invalid by Cranmer, thereby legitimizing his new union. This pivotal declaration was made after a significant conflict with the Roman Catholic Church, as Henry had already declared himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England. This event occurred against a backdrop of both personal desire and national political maneuvering, as England was experiencing increasing friction with the papacy. Cranmer's support was essential for Henry as it provided an ecclesiastical endorsement that would allow the royal marriage to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the English populace.

Cranmer's declaration also formally initiated what we now recognize as the English Reformation, a movement that aimed at reforming the Church of England from the control of the Pope and Rome. The ecclesiastical changes that followed this event eventually led to significant shifts in religious practices, the dissolution of monasteries, and the rise of Protestantism in England. The marriage of Henry and Anne, while politically motivated, became a cornerstone in the establishment of a new religious structure and the subsequent reformation of English society. The couple's marriage produced a daughter, Elizabeth, who would later become one of the most notable monarchs in English history.

This event did not only affect the royal family but had broader implications for English society as it laid the foundations for future religious conflicts and shifts in power away from established Catholic rule. In this context, the marriage of Henry and Anne marked a significant turning point that would lead to centuries of religious and political consequences in England and beyond.