puritan

Puritan refers to a movement of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to “purify” the Church of England of remaining Roman Catholic practices and governance. The term emerged from calls for reform within the Church rather than a separate denomination. Puritans aimed to restore a more evangelical and scripturally centered form of worship and church organization, and they often pressed for clearer discipline, moral rigor, and renewed religious seriousness within the national church.

Beliefs and practices commonly associated with Puritanism include a Calvinist theology emphasizing the authority of Scripture, the predestination of the elect, and the need for personal conversion and piety. They favored plain worship, preaching, and Bible study, and they generally supported reforms to church governance that reduced episcopal or ceremonial elements in favor of more simple, accountable structures. Education and literacy were valued to enable individual access to the Bible, and moral conduct, family discipline, and community standards were emphasized as marks of true religion.

Historical development and impact varied over time. Puritan sentiment grew during the late Elizabethan era and intensified under James I and Charles I, contributing to political and religious conflict that culminated in the English Civil War. During the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell, Puritan influence was significant in politics and culture. After the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, many Puritans faced legal restrictions as nonconformists, an opposition that contributed to continued dissent within English society.

In North America, Puritans helped establish the Massachusetts Bay Colony and left a lasting legacy in education, law, and social discipline. Their writings and political-religious influence shaped later Protestant movements and the development of American religious liberty debates.