Congregationalists

This denomination came first to this country with the “‘ Pilgrim Fathers’ at Plymouth, Ma . The Puritans and other settlers of New England gradually were led to separate from the Church of England and to form themselves into Congregational churches, At first these were closely connected with the colonial government. Expenses of church and pastor were met by public taxes, and even the rights of citizenship depended upon church fellowship. These features, however, were gradually eliminated (in Connecticut in 1818, in Ma achusetts in 1833). The first colonial synod was held 1637 at Cambridge, Ma .; the second, 1646, approved the Westminster A embly’s Confe ion of Faith and set forth a statement of church polity known as the ‘‘ Cambridge Platform.’’ The fourth, held in Boston, 1865, revised the platform of church polity and i ued a declaration of faith. This denomination still has its main strength in New England, but has been carried westward by settlers in the newer States. Number of members in 1890, 513,000; in 1900, 628,234.