Puritans and the Church of England

The Puritans were unhappy with the Church of England. They thought that there was no need for bishops as well as priests. They did not want priests to wear special robes. They did not like having to use a Prayer Book. In all these ways, they said, the Church of England was too close to the Catholic Church.

In 1603, King James VI of Scotland became James I of England. The English Puritans were pleased, for James had been brought up in Scotland by strict Protestants, men like themselves. So the Puritans hoped that he would alter the Church of England to suit them. But they were disappointed. James I made no changes.

In 1625, James died and Charles I became king. The Puritans did not trust him, for his queen was a Catholic, and they thought he had plans to make the Church of England Catholic too. Priests made the sign of the cross as they prayed, and used altars instead of simple tables. William Laud, whom Charles chose to be Archbishop of Canterbury, sent inspectors round the churches to make sure that the Prayer Book was used. Puritans who broke the rules were put in prison.

When Charles tried to make the Scots use the Prayer Book in 1637, they rebelled. A Scots army invaded England, and took Newcastle. Charles had to pay them £850 a day to advance no further.

Walter Robson: Crown, Parliament and People; Oxford University Press, 1992/2002, page 39