This Week in Christian History: Mother Teresa, Puritans, A Pope Resigns

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, December 10, 2017

Puritans Try to Ban Bishops - December 11, 1640

The British Houses of Parliament in central London. | (Photo: Reuters/Eddie Keogh)

This week marks the anniversary of when English Puritans attempted to appeal to Parliament to abolish the office of bishop from the official church.

On the eve of the English Civil War, Puritan leaders presented Parliament with a petition, which came to be called the "Root and Branch Petition," signed by about 15,000 seeking to eliminate the episcopacy.

"The restraint of many godly and able men from the ministry, and thrusting out of many congregations their faithful, diligent and powerful ministers, who lived peaceably with them, and did them good, only because they cannot in conscience submit unto and maintain the bishops' needless devices," read the petition in part.

"All which we humbly refer to the consideration of this honourable assembly, desiring the Lord of heaven to direct you in the right way to redress all these evils."

While the House of Commons eventually accepted the "Root and Branch Petition," the House of Lords rejected it. The petition's defeat did not end the country's religious turmoil, which continued to rage for years to come.