Independent (religion)

In Welsh and English church history, Independents advocated local

congregational control of religious and church matters, without any wider geographical hierarchy, either ecclesiastical or political. They were particularly prominent during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms as well under the Commonwealth and Protectorate. The New Model Army became the champion of Independent religious views and its members helped carry out Pride's Purge

in December 1648.

Unlike their

Presbyterian allies, Independents rejected any state role in religious practice, including the Church of England, and advocated freedom of religion for most non-Catholics. Their religious views led some to back radical political groups such as the Levellers, who supported concepts like Republicanism, universal suffrage

and joint ownership of property.

History

At the outbreak of the First English Civil War in August 1642, the cause of Parliament was supported by an uneasy alliance between traditional members of the Church of England, those who wanted to reform it into a Presbyterian polity and Independents, who rejected any idea of a state church. Led by John Pym, the Presbyterian party was in the ascendant in the period leading up to the war and during its early years. However, as negotiations with the Scottish Covenanters over the 1643 Solemn League and Covenant demonstrated, the Independents proved strong enough to prevent Presbyterianism being imposed on them.

The Independents grew in strength after the formation of the

MPs who sanctioned the Execution of Charles I in January 1649 and created the Commonwealth of England. They dominated English politics until shortly before the Stuart Restoration

in 1660.

The

Test Act, this excluded all nonconformists from holding civil or military office, and prevented them being awarded degrees by the universities of Cambridge and Oxford

.

Many nonconformists later migrated to the North American colonies.[1]

Notes

^ "Puritans in Colonial Virginia". www.encyclopediavirginia.org. Retrieved 1 January 2020.

References

Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Independents" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 14 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 373.

Independent (religion)

History

See also

Notes

References

Further reading