Church of the
Pilgrims What the Pilgrims sought to establish in Plymouth was a Christian fellowship like that which gathered around Jesus Himself. The early disciples had little or no organization, but in the centuries after the Master's death, attempts to gain influence over all the churches were made by leaders in centers like Rome, Antioch, Alexandria, Byzantium, and Jerusalem. By the year A.D. 1000, the bishop of Rome claimed authority over all Christendom, and many churches throughout the western part of Europe submitted to his authority. The churches of eastern Europe, all of Asia, and Egypt retained their independence. The Western or Latin church became rich and powerful, until about one third of the land was owned by it, under the rulership of Rome. Corruption increased, and soon men like Peter Waldo, John Hus, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Wycliffe were protesting against the abuses. Reading of the Bible, the rebirth of interest in thought and in the fine arts, the emergence of science, and the era of global discoveries, all combined to lead men to think for themselves and, therefore, soon resulted in a desire to return to the simplicity and sincerity of the New Testament Church. In England, the Roman system of church government was taken over by the king who declared himself to be the head of the Church. Robert Browne, Henry Barrow, John Greenwood, John Penry, William Brewster, and John Robinson were among those who dared to establish free churches like those of New Testament days in defiance of royal command. The underground churches in England and exiles from Holland provided the passengers of the 'Mayflower', which sailed from London, July 1620. They became known in history as the Pilgrim Fathers.
© Copyright 1989 by Henry David Gray; 1995 by the Congregational Christian Churches National Association. |
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