Roger Williams
1603 - 1683
overview
• 1631
immigrated to Massachusetts Bay
• 1635
banished from the Bay Colony
• 1636
founded Providence Plantation
(Rhode Island)
• 1643
• 1643 – 52
America
Cotton
published A Key into the Language of
pamphlet controversy with John
• 1644
secured the first charter for Providence
Plantation
• 1654 – 57
elected president of Rhode Island
Background
• Son of a London tailor
• Graduated from Cambridge and was ordained into the
ministry
• Was asked to serve as teacher for the Boston church.
He refused because of his belief in Separatism. Would
not pastor a church which still had ties with England.
• First of a series of clashes with the religious and political
leaders of the colony
Turbulent years
• Preached for 4 years
“seditious doctrine”
• Authorities ordered his arrest
and deportation to England
• Fled in 1636 to what is now
Rhode Island
Life with the indians
• Negotiated with the Indians for a tract of land
• True owners because they lived there
• King of England not the owner
• Served as president of the colony for 3 years
• Last 4 decades of his life, he preached among the
Indians.
• Very sympathetic toward the Indians
• Died in poverty at age of 81
Some of his writings
• Letter to the Town of Providence, January 1655, on
the Limits of Freedom
• Highlights his views on freedom of religion
• A Key into the Language of America
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Contrast between the Englishman and the pagan Indian
Indians often emerge as superior to the Englishmen
Biblical allusions in the poems
The book was the first major study of a Native American
language and was intended for English usage in
communicating with Native Americans.
His key contribution
• Helped lay the groundwork for the religious freedom
we enjoy today
• The first to suggest separation of church and state
Separation of
church & state
• Church should not be subject to the authority of the
state
• Church should have authority only over church
members, not the whole community.
• Church limited to spiritual matters
• Based on the principle of liberty of conscience
• Letter to the Town of Providence
• Threatened the very core of theocracy
Separation would ensure…
• Protection for the church’s religious conviction and
operations from governmental interference
• Restrains the government from establishing a state
religion or favoring a particular form of relgion over
others
Baptist … for awhile
• Founded the first Baptist church in the New World
• Resigned after four months, saying his beliefs had
changed
• Became a Seeker
• All organized churches were corrupt
• Wait for God’s revelation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evuoj2b1reg