The Conventicle: On this day in Puritan history (22nd August, 1642)

Who were the Puritans?

"A loosely organized reform movement originating during the English Reformation of the sixteenth century. The name came from efforts to 'purify' the Church of England by those who felt that the Reformation had not yet been completed. Eventually the Puritans went on to attempt purification of the self and of society as well."

(Mark Noll, "Puritanism", Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 1984)

Believe website: Puritanism, Puritans
Catholic Encyclopedia: Puritans
Puritanism in New England: Donna Campbell (Wash St U)
Wikipedia: Puritan
Dr. Harry Stout (Yale) dispels Puritan myths

Monday, August 21, 2006

On this day in Puritan history (22nd August, 1642)

King Charles I raised his royal standard at Nottingham, officially initiating the English Civil War. (Let's hope Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad doesn't have similarly bellicose intentions today.)