The Presbyterian doctrine
emerged during the Protestant Reformation.
Based on the teachings of John Calvin,
Presbyterians argued against church government by bishops. The first
Presbyterian Church to be organized on a national basis was in 16th
century France and its members became known as Huguenots.
The government of Presbyterian
churches is by elected representative bodies of ministers and elders.
Under the influence of the teachings of John
Knox, the minister of St. Giles, Edinburgh,
Presbyterianism became very strong in Scotland.
After the defeat of Charles
I in the Civil
War most members of the House of Commons
were Presbyterians.
These men were willing to share power with the king. Presbyterians
also had strong feelings
on religion. They disapproved of other Puritan
groups such as the Anabaptists,
Quakers and Congregationalists
and wanted them suppressed.
The other major group
were called the Independents. They
tended to be followers of the religious groups that the Presbyterians
wanted to suppress. The
Independents argued for a policy of religious toleration. Some Independents
also wanted to bring an end to the monarchy.
The Independents had a
strong following in the New Model Army
and had the support of Oliver Cromwell.
Afraid of their power, Presbyterian
members of the House
of Commons tried to disband
the army. The soldiers were furious, especially as Parliament made
no effort to pay them the wages that were due to them. The army decided
to take action. The Presbyterians were expelled from Parliament. With
the Independents now in control, it was decided to put Charles
II on trial as
a traitor. In 1649 Charles was found guilty and executed outside his
Whitehall Palace.
The Independents
now passed a series of new laws. The monarchy, the House
of Lords and the Anglican church
were abolished. Lands owned by the royal family and the church were
sold and the money was used to pay the parliamentary soldiers. The
Independents also kept their promise regarding
religious toleration. People were no longer fined for not attending
their local church. However, everyone was still expected to attend
some form of religious worship on Sundays.
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