Exploring the rise and trials of independence in English church history This volume delves into the development of Independent principles in England from the Reformation through the Civil War and the Commonwealth, tracing how congregational liberty evolved under leaders, armies, and parliaments. It analyzes key debates, political shifts, and the battles over church and state that shaped a movement still discussed today. - Follow the arc from early Independent thought to its role during the Commonwealth and Protectorate. - See how figures like Cromwell and the Preface of a new parliamentary order influenced religious liberty and church governance. - Learn how dissenting groups navigated power, persecution, and evolving definitions of toleration. - Understand the debates that continued into the Restoration era and their impact on Nonconformist history. Ideal for readers of religious history, political theory, and readers seeking a detailed account of the Independents within English history.