Why did the American Revolution create difficulties for Church of England congregations in the colonies?

The American Revolution created significant difficulties for Church of England congregations in the colonies, primarily due to the clergy's political ties to the British Crown.1

At the time of the Revolution, all clergymen had taken an oath of allegiance to the Crown upon their ordination. Consequently, many of these ministers were Loyalists who were forced to flee to England or Canada, leading to a decline in church membership and the persecution of the remaining congregations.1

Furthermore, the church faced structural challenges that predated the war but were exacerbated by the political climate. Because the Church of England had never sent a bishop to the colonies, local congregations lacked the authority to confirm members or ordain new priests, which severely limited their ability to function independently. These pressures eventually necessitated the formation of an autonomous American church that could maintain its spiritual legacy while separating from the British ecclesiastical structure.1