Why did Puritans believe William Laud’s church reforms resembled Roman Catholic practices?

Puritans viewed the church reforms of William Laud as a dangerous return to "popery," or Roman Catholic practices, because they emphasized outward ceremony, order, and uniformity over the Puritan focus on preaching and inward worship.1

Laud’s reforms, which he enforced strictly as archbishop of Canterbury, included several changes that Puritans found objectionable:

• Ceremonial Rituals: He mandated the use of surplices and required congregations to bow at the mention of the name of Jesus.1
• Altar Placement: He ordered that the communion table be moved to the east end of the chancel and railed off from the congregation, a practice that mirrored Catholic altar arrangements.1
• Emphasis on Uniformity: Laud prioritized the strict observance of the Book of Common Prayer and sought to repair and beautify churches, which Puritans interpreted as a move toward Catholic idolatry.12
• Suppression of Preaching: Because Puritans considered preaching the essential task of the ministry, they viewed Laud’s efforts to curtail and control "lectureships" as a direct attack on their religious mission.1

To the Puritans, these actions represented an abandonment of the Reformation and a regression toward the very rituals they sought to purge from the Church of England.12