Why thousands of English Puritans risked everything to build a new world

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Driven by the conviction that the Church of England remained tainted by Roman Catholic practices, Puritans sought to establish a godly society. When reform at home proved impossible, thousands crossed the Atlantic to create working models of their faith, hoping to build a city that would inspire all of Europe.

Puritanism emerged in the late 16th century as a reform movement dedicated to purifying the Church of England of what its followers viewed as popish idolatry. Influenced by Calvinist theology, Puritans emphasized the necessity of a covenant relationship with God and placed a premium on learned preaching. While many remained within the established church, others—known as Separatists—rejected it entirely, forming voluntary congregations based on their own covenants. This religious earnestness often put them at odds with the state, leading to repression and, for some, the decision to flee England.

The pressure to conform intensified under King Charles I and Archbishop William Laud, who restricted Puritan preaching and removed ministers from their positions. This environment made emigration an increasingly attractive option for those who felt they could no longer practice their faith freely. Between 1629 and 1643, approximately 21,000 Puritans migrated to New England, seeking a refuge where they could establish a properly reformed Christian commonwealth. This movement, known as the Great Migration, was cut short in 1642 by the outbreak of the English Civil War.

In North America, these settlers founded colonies like Massachusetts Bay, intended as working models of the Puritan way of life. Leaders such as John Winthrop envisioned these communities as a city upon a hill—a beacon of godly living for other nations. Although Puritanism as a powerful political and religious force eventually waned in the 18th century, their efforts left a lasting mark on the social and religious landscape of the colonies, shaping the development of New England long before the movement was eventually replaced by milder congregational practices.

The movement's history is inextricably linked to the political turmoil in England. Efforts to reform the church contributed to the English Civil War, and the subsequent rise of the New Model Army and Oliver Cromwell provided a period of limited pluralism for Puritans. However, after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the movement faced the Great Persecution, ultimately leading to the Toleration Act of 1689, which defined England's religious solution by allowing dissenting groups to exist alongside the established episcopal church.

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