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'English Dissenters' were those who separated from the Church of England.^[1] They opposed State interference in religious matters, and founded their own communities over the 16th to 18th century period. Having hoped for a more Protestant Reformation in the Church of England, many individuals were disappointed that political decisions were made by the Monarch in order to control the Established Church.
The English Dissenters triumphed for a time under Oliver Cromwell. King James I had always said "No bishop, no king" - Cromwell made good on that - abolishing both.
After the Restoration in 1660 the episcopacy was reinstalled and the rights of the dissenters were limited. The Act of Uniformity 1662 required episcopal ordination for all ministers. Many clergymen instead withdrew from the Official State Church.
These English Dissenters were also known as Nonconformists, though originally this term referred to refusal to use certain vestments and ceremonies of the Church of England, rather than separation from it. Among the several groups, there were:
'Historic'
In existence during the English Interregnum (1649–1660)

★ Adamites

★ Anabaptists (Anabaptists of continental origin are still flourishing.)

★ Barrowists

★ Behmenists

★ Brownists

★ Diggers (1649–1651)

★ Familists

★ Fifth Monarchy Men

★ Free-will Men

★ Grindletonians

★ Levellers

★ Lollards

★ Muggletonians

★ Puritans

★ Philadelphians

★ Ranters

★ Sabbatarians

★ Seekers

★ Socinians
'Present-day'
Those ancient Dissenters that survived

★ Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion

★ Baptists

★ Presbyterians

★ Congregationalist

★ Mennonites

★ Moravian Brethren

★ Quakers

★ Unitarians

Contents

Some notable dissenters

See also

Some notable dissenters

★ Praise-God Barebone

★ Richard Baxter

★ William Blake

★ John Bunyan

★ Abiezer Coppe

★ Daniel Defoe

★ George Fox

★ John Knox

★ Ludovic Muggleton

★ John Owen

★ Joseph Priestley

★ Joshua Toulmin

★ Thomas Venner

★ Isaac Watts

★ Gerrard Winstanley

See also

★ Christian anarchism

★ Freedom of religion

★ Nonconformism

★ Religion in the United Kingdom

★ 17th century denominations in England

★ English Independents