Anglicans, Puritans, Separatists, and the Shaping of New England
Who were the Anglicans, Puritans, and Separatists? What were their differences?
During the reigns of Elizabeth the First (1558-1603) and King James the First (1603-1625), the Church of England (also known as the Anglican Church) faced internal conflicts, particularly with groups known as Separatists and Puritans.
The Puritans were a faction within the Church of England who sought to "purify" it of remaining Catholic practices and make it more Protestant. They believed that the reforms initiated under Henry VIII and continued under Elizabeth I were incomplete. They sought to implement more extensive changes. On the other hand, the Separatists were radical Puritans who believed that the Church of England was beyond reform. They advocated for complete separation from the national church and the formation of independent congregations. This conflict created significant religious tension and persecution, particularly under rulers who sought to impose religious uniformity.
These factors were critically important in establishing distinctions between the church practices and guiding principles of the Separatists churches at Leiden and Plymouth, and the Puritan congregations of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Yet one event in particular, the Synod of Dort (1619) set New England's churches and their ministries on dramatically different paths. The Synod of Dort was the first and only international gathering of Reformed Christian church leaders from England, Scotland, and western Europe. The synod's five-point doctrinal statement, with its emphasis on predestination as a (if not the) key Reformed Christian tenet, shaped the character of churches founded after 1619. The congregation gathered at Scrooby, Nottinghamshire circa 1606, then transferred to Amsterdam, Leiden and Plymouth had been worshiping together for a dozen years before Dort and its stance on predestination. It was fateful timing for 17th-century New England's future. Together we will explore the differences and their ramifications of American history.
Speaker Bio: Richard is the Deputy Executive Director and Senior Historian at Plimoth Patuxet Museums. He has been with the Museum for more than 40 years and has served as a historical role player, research associate, Director of Education and Director of Special Projects. He studied English and American Studies in graduate programs at Bridgewater State University, the College of William and Mary, and the University of Connecticut. Richard oversees the Museum’s ongoing research as well as educational and theatrical programs. He has spoken at the United Nations and Smithsonian National Museum of American History and has appeared on NPR, PBS, History Channel, NECN, NBC News, ABC’s The Chew, and Martha Stewart Living Radio. He also worked on Ric Burns’ film The Pilgrims for American Experience.
This program will be hosted online via Zoom. A link will be emailed to all registrants two hours before the program starts at 7 pm.