For Williams, not separating from the Church was “middle walking” and “halting between Christ and antichrist.” This view was far too radical for the colony at the time. Not long after arriving in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Williams became a separatist, a Puritan who wanted to leave the Anglican Church. A group of Puritans founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1629, electing John Winthrop as governor. Faced with the possibility of religious persecution, jail, or even death, Williams and his wife Mary decided to move to the new Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1631. During this time, the English monarchy dealt very harshly with religious dissenters. The English monarchy considered the Puritans religious dissenters because they wanted to simplify and purify the Church of England. Even though he was an Anglican clergyman, William maintained personal beliefs that were more like those of the Puritans. Roger Williams National Memorial commemorates the life and legacy of this influential figure.īorn in London in 1603, Williams became an ordained minister in the Church of England. Throughout his life, Williams fought for the idea that religion should not be subject to regulation by the government, but that it should be an individual freedom. One of the strongest advocates of this American ideal was Roger Williams. An artist's rendering of Providence, circa 1650įreedom of religion is a founding principle of American democracy.
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