Editing Henry VIII (section)

== Shrines destroyed and monasteries dissolved ==
{{Main|Dissolution of the monasteries}}
In 1538, the chief minister Thomas Cromwell pursued an extensive campaign against what the government termed "idolatry" practised under the old religion, culminating in September with the dismantling of the shrine of St. [[Thomas Becket]] at [[Canterbury Cathedral]]. As a consequence, the King was excommunicated by Pope Paul III on 17 December of the same year.<ref name="Scarisbrick361">{{Harvnb|Scarisbrick|1997|p=361}}</ref> In 1540, Henry sanctioned the complete destruction of shrines to saints. In 1542, England's remaining monasteries were all dissolved, and their property transferred to the Crown. [[Abbot]]s and [[Prior (ecclesiastical)|prior]]s lost their seats in the [[House of Lords]]. Consequently, the [[Lords Spiritual]]{{Snd}}as members of the clergy with seats in the House of Lords were known{{Snd}}were for the first time outnumbered by the [[Lords Temporal]].{{sfn|Spalding|1894|pp=28-29}}