CONGREGATIONALISM, English. Four years before the voyage of the “Pilgrim Fathers,” that is, in 1616, Henry Jacob, a friend of Robinson who had returned from Holland to England, had secretly founded there a Congregational Church. Others were established after him, also secretly; but only in the time of Oliver Cromwell (q.v.; 1647–58) did they gain some breathing space, indeed they were able to formulate a declaration of their principles and doctrines, which they presented to the government shortly after Cromwell’s death. This is the famous Savoy Declaration, so called from the palace in which they met. This Declaration, which is still regarded as a fundamental document, demands the absolute independence of local Churches or congregations, declares that civil authority cannot interfere in religious matters, recognizes as ministers of worship only those chosen by the individual local Churches, and seeks religious tolerance, etc. When in 1660 the monarchy was restored and with it the established Church, the Congregationalists were again persecuted, but after the Revolution of 1688 full liberty was granted them. The extreme individualism of the local Churches caused some difficulties, to remedy which recourse was had to the formation of partial unions of the nearest Churches, and in 1833 to a more general one, the Congregational Union of England and Wales.