The event that marked the beginning of the Reformation in England was the Act of Supremacy in 1534. This legislation declared King Henry VIII as the Supreme Head of the Church of England, effectively breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church's authority. Henry’s motivation was primarily personal; he sought an annulment from Catherine of Aragon, which the Pope refused. This act set a precedent for religious reforms, leading to the establishment of Protestantism in England. The Reformation also had lasting political, social, and theological implications, reshaping the religious landscape and laying the groundwork for future movements and debates within Christianity.