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Why were Puritans dissatisfied with the Book of Common Prayer?
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The stately Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England. The cathedral is the seat of the archbishop of Canterbury, the mother church of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion, and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Puritans were dissatisfied with the Book of Common Prayer because they viewed many of its liturgical practices and ceremonies as remnants of "popish idolatry" or Roman Catholic "popery" that had been retained within the Church of England.1
Rooted in Calvinist theology, Puritans sought to "purify" the church by removing these traditional practices, which they believed were inconsistent with a godly life and a true covenant relationship with God. Their specific objections included:21
- Liturgical Practices: They opposed formal clerical vestments and other rituals associated with the Roman Catholic mass, viewing them as unnecessary impositions on worship.3
- Desire for Reform: Puritans advocated for a more simplified, scripture-based form of worship that prioritized preaching over traditional ceremony.21
- Institutional Resistance: At events like the Hampton Court Conference (1604) and the Savoy Conference, Puritan leaders presented lists of "Exceptions" to the prayer book, but these were largely rejected by Anglican bishops who favored maintaining the established episcopal order.45
Ultimately, the failure to address these concerns led many Puritans to defect from the Church of England or seek alternative forms of religious expression.4