Congregational polityCongregational or congregationalist polity is a system of ecclesiastical polity in which every local church is completely independent and ecclesiastically sovereign. Its first articulation in writing is the Cambridge Platform of 1648 in New England. The name comes from Congregationalism, a Protestant tradition descended from English Puritanism, a 16th and 17th century Reformed Protestant movement in the Church of England.
PuritansThe Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to rid the Church of England of what they considered to be Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should become more Protestant. Puritanism played a significant role in English and early American history, especially in the Protectorate in Great Britain, and the earlier European settlement of New England.
Church of EnglandAnglican church in EnglandThe Church of England (C of E) is the establishedChristian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It was the initial church of the Anglican tradition. The church traces its history to the Christian hierarchy recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain by the 3rd century and to the 6th-century Gregorian mission to Kent led by Augustine of Canterbury. Its members are called Anglicans.
Reformed ChristianityProtestant denominational familyReformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, and Congregational traditions, as well as parts of the Anglican, Baptist and Waldensian traditions, in addition to a minority of people belonging to the Methodist faith (known as Calvinistic Methodists).
CreedIcon depicting Emperor Constantine (center) and the Fathers of the First Council of Nicaea (325) as holding the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed of 381A creed, also known as a confession of faith, a symbol, or a statement of faith, is a statement of the shared beliefs of a community (often a religious community) which summarizes its core tenets. Many Christian denominations use three creeds: the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, the Apostles' Creed and the Athanasian Creed.
Savoy DeclarationThe Savoy Declaration is a Congregationalist confession of faith. Its full title is A Declaration of the Faith and Order owned and practised in the Congregational Churches in England. It was drawn up in October 1658 by English Independents and Congregationalists meeting at the Savoy Hospital, London. It consists of a preface, a confession, and a platform of discipline. The Savoy AssemblyThe Savoy Assembly met at the Savoy for eleven or twelve days from 12 October 1658.
Cambridge PlatformThe Cambridge Platform is a statement of congregational church government for the churches of colonial New England. It was written in 1648 in response to Presbyterian criticism and served as the religious constitution of Massachusetts until 1780. The platform's preface also praised the Westminster Confession. The document was shaped primarily by the Puritan ministers Richard Mather and John Cotton.
Kingdom of EnglandSovereign state in Europe before 1707Today part ofUnited KingdomEnglandWalesScotland (Lothian and the Scottish Borders; partially)The Kingdom of England was a sovereign state on the island of Great Britain from 927, when all of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were united under the rule of Æthelstan, until 1 May 1707, when it relinquished its sovereignty along with Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain, which would later become the United Kingdom.
Robert Browne (Brownist)Robert Browne (1550s – 1633) was the founder of the Brownists, a common designation for early Separatists from the Church of England before 1620. In later life he was reconciled to the established church and became an Anglican priest. BiographyBrowne was born at Tolethorpe Hall in Little Casterton, Rutland, England, about 1550, and was the third of seven children of Anthony Browne and his wife Dorothy, a daughter of Sir Philip Boteler.
John Greenwood (divine)John Greenwood (1556 – 6 April 1593) was an English Separatist Puritan, or Brownist, minister who was executed for his faith. He led the London underground church from 1587 to 1593 and wrote several works of Brownist apologetics, working closely with Henry Barrow. LifeGreenwood was born in 1556 in Heptonstall, West Riding, Yorkshire, England. He entered as a sizar at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, on 18 March 1577/1578, and commenced B.A. 1581.
Henry BarroweHenry Barrow (or Barrowe) (c. 1550 – 6 April 1593) was an English Separatist Puritan, or Brownist, who was executed for his views. He led the London underground church from 1587 to 1593; spent most of that time in prison; and wrote numerous works of Brownist apologetics, most notably A Brief Discoverie of the False Church.
congregationRelated word or term.
PuritansThe Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to rid the Church of England of what they considered to be Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should become more Protestant. Puritanism played a significant role in English and early American history, especially in the Protectorate in Great Britain, and the earlier European settlement of New England.Church of EnglandAnglican church in EnglandThe Church of England (C of E) is the establishedChristian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It was the initial church of the Anglican tradition. The church traces its history to the Christian hierarchy recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain by the 3rd century and to the 6th-century Gregorian mission to Kent led by Augustine of Canterbury. Its members are called Anglicans.Reformed ChristianityProtestant denominational familyReformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, and Congregational traditions, as well as parts of the Anglican, Baptist and Waldensian traditions, in addition to a minority of people belonging to the Methodist faith (known as Calvinistic Methodists).CreedIcon depicting Emperor Constantine (center) and the Fathers of the First Council of Nicaea (325) as holding the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed of 381A creed, also known as a confession of faith, a symbol, or a statement of faith, is a statement of the shared beliefs of a community (often a religious community) which summarizes its core tenets. Many Christian denominations use three creeds: the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, the Apostles' Creed and the Athanasian Creed.Savoy DeclarationThe Savoy Declaration is a Congregationalist confession of faith. Its full title is A Declaration of the Faith and Order owned and practised in the Congregational Churches in England. It was drawn up in October 1658 by English Independents and Congregationalists meeting at the Savoy Hospital, London. It consists of a preface, a confession, and a platform of discipline. The Savoy AssemblyThe Savoy Assembly met at the Savoy for eleven or twelve days from 12 October 1658.Cambridge PlatformThe Cambridge Platform is a statement of congregational church government for the churches of colonial New England. It was written in 1648 in response to Presbyterian criticism and served as the religious constitution of Massachusetts until 1780. The platform's preface also praised the Westminster Confession. The document was shaped primarily by the Puritan ministers Richard Mather and John Cotton.Kingdom of EnglandSovereign state in Europe before 1707Today part ofUnited KingdomEnglandWalesScotland (Lothian and the Scottish Borders; partially)The Kingdom of England was a sovereign state on the island of Great Britain from 927, when all of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were united under the rule of Æthelstan, until 1 May 1707, when it relinquished its sovereignty along with Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain, which would later become the United Kingdom.Robert Browne (Brownist)Robert Browne (1550s – 1633) was the founder of the Brownists, a common designation for early Separatists from the Church of England before 1620. In later life he was reconciled to the established church and became an Anglican priest. BiographyBrowne was born at Tolethorpe Hall in Little Casterton, Rutland, England, about 1550, and was the third of seven children of Anthony Browne and his wife Dorothy, a daughter of Sir Philip Boteler.John Greenwood (divine)John Greenwood (1556 – 6 April 1593) was an English Separatist Puritan, or Brownist, minister who was executed for his faith. He led the London underground church from 1587 to 1593 and wrote several works of Brownist apologetics, working closely with Henry Barrow. LifeGreenwood was born in 1556 in Heptonstall, West Riding, Yorkshire, England. He entered as a sizar at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, on 18 March 1577/1578, and commenced B.A. 1581.Henry BarroweHenry Barrow (or Barrowe) (c. 1550 – 6 April 1593) was an English Separatist Puritan, or Brownist, who was executed for his views. He led the London underground church from 1587 to 1593; spent most of that time in prison; and wrote numerous works of Brownist apologetics, most notably A Brief Discoverie of the False Church.congregationRelated word or term.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.