When Queen Elizabeth I came to the throne (1558) Parliament voted to restore the Church of England to its state at the end of Edward VI’s reign. Many Protestants had experienced the Continental Reformed churches during the reign of Queen Mary and saw the situation at the end of Edward’s reign as a starting point for further reform; Elizabeth, by contrast, was not willing to allow further reform. Her bishops and most of her clergy obeyed the existing rules, while hoping for change in the future. Others were less patient and were willing to rebel. These became known as Puritans.
They were all seeking greater reform of the church; none of them had any thought of leaving it or forming another church. Initially the issues of controversy were matters like the wearing of a surplice by the clergy and some of the wording of the Book of Common Prayer. As time went on some of the more radical Puritans agitated for the replacement of bishops by a Presbyterian system. Others were frustrated by their inability to introduce change and turned their attention to pastoral care. In the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I there was no doubt that the Church of England was one of the Reformed churches. Charles I, however, encouraged a more high church approach with what many perceived to be Roman Catholic tendencies. This led to determined opposition from Puritans and others and was a key factor in precipitating the Civil War. Under the Commonwealth there was an unprecedented degree of religious liberty, with the rise of Presbyterian, Congregational and Baptist factions. With the Restoration of the Monarchy and episcopacy under Charles II these other factions were initially suppressed, but in due course led to the formation of non-Conformist denominations.