Who were the Puritans?

• A. People that were for Anglicanism
• B. People who were neutral in religious matters
• C. People that were against Anglicanism
• D. People who supported Catholicism

Answer: (C)

Puritans were English Protestants who believed the Church of England still kept too many Roman Catholic practices and structures. They wanted to “purify” Anglican worship and church governance, pushing for simpler services, more emphasis on preaching, and stricter moral discipline. Because they aimed to reform how Anglicanism was practiced rather than maintain it exactly as it stood, they often clashed with the authorities supporting the church’s existing ways. Many Puritans stayed within the Church of England but insisted on significant reforms; others eventually formed separate groups. So their stance was against the way Anglicanism was being practiced at the time, not a blanket support for Anglicanism in its current form.