The Pilgrom Forfathers

The Pilgrim’s Forefathers

The Pilgrims were English Protestants who fled England to escape the oppressive regime of James I and the established Anglican Church. Travelling f irst to Amsterdam under the leadership of John Robinson (pastor of the “Pilgrim Fathers”), they encountered theological clashes with local Dutch Protestants. In Leiden they found a more liberal atmosphere, thanks to the university and some like-minded Calvinists who already lived in Leiden.

They lived and worked in Leiden from 1609 to 1620. After nearly a decade, the Pilgrims decided to leave Holland due to the economic hardship of a part of the group and the fear of eventual assimilation of their small group into Dutch society and religion. The Pilgrims also desired to be missionaries, to spread a purer view of the gospel, which is why they referred to themselves as Puritans.

Thus, beginning in the 1620s, groups of Pilgrims travelled onwards to North America. The Pilgrims played a vital role in the history of the United States and have become a central theme in its cultural identity. Some of their ideas are directly traceable to their stay in the Netherlands and some of them more specifically to the medieval city of Leiden.

Pelgrimvaderskerk

The Oude- or Pelgrimvaderskerk (Pilgrim Fathers Church), in the middle of historic Delfshaven, has a rich history. The church is open to the public every Saturday afternoon (without appointment). The exterior with the distinctive façade in régence style (1761) and the bell tower make an impression on the visitor from across the water. The church was built in 1417 as a Roman Catholic chapel. Since the Reformation, the church has been used for Protestant services.

The international fame of this church is due to the Pilgrim Fathers who left from Delfshaven for their new country, America. A plaque on the front states that in 1620 the Pilgrim Fathers left this church for their long journey to America. In an outbuilding of the church, a Pilgrim Fathers Memorial has been set up, showing all sorts of artifacts related to the Robinson’s group. Address: Aelbrechtskolk 20