How the Separatists got to New England
A Quick Overview
Separatists
were a sub group of the Congregationalists. They wanted a clean break from the Church of England and the formation of a new and separate church. The Separatists were found all throughout the country of England, this is believed to be due to the teachings of pastors coming out of colleges, especially Emmanuel College in Cambridge.
Congregationalists
were a sub group of the Puritans, who wanted complete self-government of the churches, allowing each church to choose its own pastor and officers. Members known as “visible saints” were those that confessed their faith and swore to the covenant.
Puritans
wanted to “purify” the Church of England. They did not want to use the prayer book of the Church of England instead deciding to focus on the bible, simplified ritual and strict observance of the Sabbath.
Both Puritans and Congregationalists
were still part of and claimed membership with the Church of England (also known as the Anglican Church). The head of the Church of England was established as the King or Queen of England under Henry VIII. In 1603 Queen Elizabeth I died and King James I took the throne. The views of the Separatists directly challenged the authority of the crown. King James is quoted as saying “I will make them conform, or I will harry them out of the land.”
King James
After the literal and figurative trials of King James, a separatist church that had formed in the village of Scrooby, led by pastor John Robinson moved to Holland and eventually settled in Leiden.
Holland
Though the Separatists had found religious freedom, they had other challenges. Some had found finding work hard, others were concerned that their children were losing their language and customs. Holland was also in the midst of the Eight’s Years’ War with Spain which also lead to fears of Spain’s inquisition if Holland was captured.
Mayflower
After 12 years in Holland, this group of Separatists found financing from Merchant Adventurers (today’s Venture Capitalists). They boarded a ship known as the Mayflower, and set sail, landing in what is now known as Plymouth, Massachusetts.