Puritan - GCSE History Definition

The term 'Puritan' refers to a group of protestant Christians who wanted to "purify" the Church of England of anything that was not in the Bible. They became extremely powerful and influential during the 16th and 17th centuries and played a key role in the English Civil Wars of 1642 to 1649. They removed statues and ornamentation from churches and lived by strict moral rules, such as avoiding drinking alcohol or playing games on Sundays. Some Puritans moved to America in order to establish communities that followed their strict forms of worship and austere way of living. In history, they are known for their strong influence on religion and society in both England and the early American colonies.