In the early 1600s a small group of Protestants in England wanted to create a new saintlier social order by liberating it’s followers of the commands laid down by the Roman Catholic Church. The Puritans rejected the Catholic church’s traditions and ceremonies like the wearing of priestly garments. The refused to kneel while receiving the Holy Communion and making the sigh of the cross during baptism.
The Great Migration of Puritans to North America began in early 17th century and thousands settled in New England. These people were part of the Church of England, but they believed the church clung to tight to the Roman Catholic traditions. Non-separating Puritans did not want to have separate congregations from the Church of England, but a small group of separating Puritans did leave the national church and began holding their own religious meetings.
A separatist group of Pilgrims in 1620 established the Plymouth Colony led by William Brewster, Richard Clyfton and John Robinson. In 1629 Puritans with the non-separating views established the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Settlers expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony because of their unorthodox religious opinions established the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
