Why did the Pilgrim Fathers leave England?

The Pilgrim Fathers, or Puritans, left England to escape religious persecution. Their hope was that they could make a new start in the colonies and be safe to worship as they wanted.

Due to the fact that they believed that the Anglican church had not separated itself far enough from Catholicism, Puritans carried out their own worship services, considering themselves to be the only true Christians. This outraged the Anglican church and caused the Puritans to be seen as heretics. After attempting to settle in several locations, they finally boarded a ship for the New World and, in 1620, began a new colony where they hoped to be free.