What group of Puritans sought to separate from the Anglican Church?

The group of Puritans that sought to separate from the Anglican Church were known as the Pilgrims. In the early 17th century, this group believed that the Anglican Church was too similar to the Catholic Church, and thus they wanted to create a more purified form of worship and governance. The Pilgrims, seeking religious freedom, famously left England and established the Plymouth Colony in 1620 after sailing on the Mayflower. Their journey symbolizes the quest for religious autonomy that characterized this period in American history.

The Pilgrims' desire to separate from the Anglican Church stands in contrast to other groups, such as Puritans who aimed to reform the church from within rather than separate entirely. Quakers, while also dissenters with a distinct set of beliefs, did not emerge until later and were focused more on inner spirituality and peace rather than separation from the Anglican Church. Similarly, Baptists arose with their own theological perspectives and practices that were different from those of the Pilgrims.