Scrooby Congregation
Encyclopedia
The Scrooby Congregation were English Protestant separatists who lived near Scrooby
, Nottinghamshire
. Starting in 1607/8 the Congregation emigrated to Holland in search of the freedom to worship as they chose. They founded the English separatist church at Leiden, one of several English separatist groups in the Netherlands at the time.
was rector of Babworth
, from 1605 under suspicion of nonconformity. Suspended, he continued to preach at Bawtry
, near Scrooby though just over the county boundary in Yorkshire
. From 1606 the congregation around Clyfton met in the house of William Brewster
. This manor house has been identified as on the site of the old Scrooby Palace of the archbishops of York, though much of the older building had been demolished by then.In 1607 Clyfton was excommunicated; at this time he had already met William Bradford. John Robinson
from Sturton le Steeple
, also in northern Nottinghamshire, had lost his church positions for his views and returned home by about the end of 1604; he made contact with separatist groups in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
, just over the eastern county boundary, as well as Scrooby. The minister at Gainsborough was John Smyth. In this way the two separatist churches were drawn together, with Robinson assuming authority in the Scrooby congregation alongside Clyfton after a process of ordination.
of Smyth's congregation, who had moved away to Basford, Nottinghamshire before coming to attention for not taking communion. The emigrants went to Amsterdam
and Leiden.
than English
. The Congregation decided to emigrate to the Americas, where their children could be English, and they could worship freely.
Scrooby
Scrooby is a small village, on the River Ryton and near Bawtry, in the northern part of the English county of Nottinghamshire. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of 329. Until 1766, it was on the Great North Road so became a stopping-off point for numerous important figures...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
. Starting in 1607/8 the Congregation emigrated to Holland in search of the freedom to worship as they chose. They founded the English separatist church at Leiden, one of several English separatist groups in the Netherlands at the time.
History
Richard ClyftonRichard Clyfton
Richard Clyfton was an English Brownist minister, at Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, and then in Amsterdam.-Life:He is identified with the Richard Clifton who, on 12 February 1585, was instituted to the vicarage of Marnham, near Newark, and on 11 July 1586 to the rectory of Babworth, near Retford, and...
was rector of Babworth
Babworth
Babworth is a village and civil parish in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England, about 1½ miles west of Retford. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,329...
, from 1605 under suspicion of nonconformity. Suspended, he continued to preach at Bawtry
Bawtry
Bawtry is a small market town and civil parish which lies at the point where the Great North Road crosses the River Idle in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. Nearby towns include Gainsborough to the east, Retford south southeast, Worksop to the southwest and...
, near Scrooby though just over the county boundary in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. From 1606 the congregation around Clyfton met in the house of William Brewster
William Brewster (Pilgrim)
Elder William Brewster was a Mayflower passenger and a Pilgrim colonist leader and preacher.-Origins:Brewster was probably born at Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, circa 1566/1567, although no birth records have been found, and died at Plymouth, Massachusetts on April 10, 1644 around 9- or 10pm...
. This manor house has been identified as on the site of the old Scrooby Palace of the archbishops of York, though much of the older building had been demolished by then.In 1607 Clyfton was excommunicated; at this time he had already met William Bradford. John Robinson
John Robinson (pastor)
John Robinson was the pastor of the "Pilgrim Fathers" before they left on the Mayflower. He became one of the early leaders of the English Separatists, minister of the Pilgrims, and is regarded as one of the founders of the Congregational Church.-Early life:Robinson was born in Sturton le Steeple...
from Sturton le Steeple
Sturton le Steeple
Sturton le Steeple is a village in Nottinghamshire, England. It is located 6 miles east of Retford. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 497.The parish church of St Peter and St Paul has a 14th century tower with 12 pinnacles...
, also in northern Nottinghamshire, had lost his church positions for his views and returned home by about the end of 1604; he made contact with separatist groups in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a town 15 miles north-west of Lincoln on the River Trent within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. At one time it served as an important port with trade downstream to Hull, and was the most inland in England, being more than 55 miles from the North...
, just over the eastern county boundary, as well as Scrooby. The minister at Gainsborough was John Smyth. In this way the two separatist churches were drawn together, with Robinson assuming authority in the Scrooby congregation alongside Clyfton after a process of ordination.
Emigration
From the end of 1607 and into 1608 the Gainsborough-Scrooby separatist group emigrated to Holland, in waves. An important organiser of the move was Thomas HelwysThomas Helwys
Thomas Helwys , an Englishman, was one of the joint founders, with John Smyth, of the Baptist denomination.In the early seventeenth century, Helwys was principal formulator of that distinctively Baptist request: that the church and the state be kept separate in matters of law, so that individuals...
of Smyth's congregation, who had moved away to Basford, Nottinghamshire before coming to attention for not taking communion. The emigrants went to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and Leiden.
At Leiden
After arriving at Holland they realized that as foreigners, they could only take unskilled jobs and were exempt from working organizations. The congregation also noticed that their children were growing up more DutchDutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
than English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
. The Congregation decided to emigrate to the Americas, where their children could be English, and they could worship freely.