Independents |
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The Church of England, in the form Queen Elizabeth had laid down, was acceptable to most Christians. To Roman Catholics it was totally wrong. To some Protestants, it was a half-hearted compromise. They wanted to see the total removal of all the old "Catholic" ways. Practices like Signing with the Cross in Baptism, kneeling at Communion, and some of the ministers' robes were offensive to them. Many of them were doubtful about having bishops in the Church. Some wanted to see a church just like the Reformed church of Geneva. That was governed by elders, or "presbyters", and its form of worship was much plainer. This did in fact later happen in Scotland, but not in England or Wales. Those who thought this way were given the name of "Puritans". At first they had some hopes of seeing the changes they wanted. But gradually their support in Parliament got smaller, and the Queen was opposed to them. When James 1 became King, he was even more determined that they would not get their way. He threatened them with the words, |
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In 1662 Parliament forced all Puriatn clergymen to leave the Church of England. Many set up new, independent congregations. In Frome, John Humphrie's new congregation first met in a house, but later built this very grand chapel, that still overlooks his old parish church. |
Rook Lane Congregational Chapel, built in 1707 |
| Faced with this, the Puritans reacted in different ways. Most stayed in the Church of England, and "fitted in" enough to keep out of trouble. But others left the church. One group decided that the Church of England was no longer a true church, because it allowed the State to decide its form of worship. They believed God wanted the Church to be a group of people whose life was governed by the Bible. They said it's worship should not follow the rules a government decided on. Because they separated from the State Church, people called them "Separatists". Because they believed the church should be independent of State control, they were called "Independents". |
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