 Parliament called the Westminster Assembly during a time of increasing hostility between Charles I , monarch of England and Scotland , and the Puritans . Puritans could be distinguished by their insistence that worship practices be supported implicitly or explicitly by the Bible , while their opponents gave greater authority to traditional customs . They believed the Church of England , which had separated itself from the Catholic Church during the English Reformation , was still too heavily influenced by Catholicism . They sought to rid the church and nation of any of these remaining influences . This included the Church 's episcopal polity , or rule by a hierarchy of bishops . Puritans , unlike separatists , did not leave the established church . Under Charles , the Puritans ' opponents were placed in high positions of authority , most notably William Laud who was made Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633 , even though these " high churchmen " were in the minority . Puritans were forced to keep their views private or face fines and imprisonment . Laud promoted advocates of Arminianism , a theological perspective opposed to the Reformed theology of the Puritans . Worship practices such as kneeling at communion , bowing at the name of Christ , and the placement of communion tables at the East end of churches were also reinstated . To the Puritans , these seemed to be a step in the direction of Catholicism . 
 Parliament called the Westminster Assembly during a time of increasing hostility between Charles I , monarch of England and Scotland , and the Puritans . Puritans could be distinguished by their insistence that worship practices be supported implicitly or explicitly by the Bible , while their opponents gave greater authority to traditional customs . They believed the Church of England , which <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> separated itself from the Catholic Church during the English Reformation , was still too heavily influenced by Catholicism . They sought to rid the church and nation of any of these remaining influences . This included the Church <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>episcopal polity , or rule by a hierarchy of bishops . Puritans , unlike <a href='negative_concord' title='3'><mark>separatists</mark></a> , did not leave the established church . Under Charles , the Puritans <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'</mark></a>opponents <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> placed in high positions of authority , most notably William Laud <a href='null_relcl' title='6'><mark>who</mark></a>was made Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633 , even though these " high churchmen " <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> in the minority . Puritans <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>were</mark></a> forced to keep their views private or face fines and imprisonment . Laud promoted advocates of Arminianism , a theological perspective opposed to the Reformed theology of the Puritans . Worship practices such as kneeling at communion , bowing at the name of Christ , and the placement of communion tables at the East end of churches <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>were</mark></a> also reinstated . To the Puritans , these seemed to be a step in the direction of Catholicism . 
Parliament called da Westminster Assembly durin a time of increasing hostility between Charles I , monarch of England and Scotland , and tdaPuritans . Puritans could be distinguished by their insistence that worship practices be supported implicitly or explicitly by the Bible , while their opponents gave greater authority to traditional customs . They believed thdahurch of England , which done separated itself from thedatholic Church during the dalish Reformation , was still too heavily influenced by Catholicism . They sought to rid the church and nation of any of dem remaining influences . dis included the Church  episcopal polity , or rule by a hierarchy of bishops . Puritans , unlike no separatists , did not leave the established church . Under Charles , the Puritans  opponents was placed in high positions of authority , most notably William Laud was made Archbishop of Canterbury in 1633 , even though these " high churchmen " was in the minority . Puritans was forced to keep their views private or face fines and imprisonment . Laud promoted advocates of Arminianism , a theological perspective opposed to the Rdarmed theology of the Pudaans . Worship practices such as kneeling at communion , bowing at the name of Christ , and the pladaent of communion tables at the East end of churches was also reinstated . To the Puritans , thdemeemed to b a step in the direction of Catholicism .