Roger Williams Tells His Story of Leaving England in Search for a Land of Religious Freedom

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My name is Roger Williams, and I stand here today to tell you a story of faith, freedom, and resilience. I was born in England in 1603, at a time when religion and politics were tightly intertwined. From a young age, I had a thirst for knowledge, and I pursued my studies at Cambridge University, where I developed a deep love for theology. But my journey would take me far from the comfort of academia into a life of questioning authority and defending the rights of conscience.

As a Puritan, I shared many of the beliefs of those who sought to reform the Church of England. But even among Puritans, I was considered a radical. I believed that the church and the state must be separate, that each individual had the right to worship—or not worship—according to their own conscience. These ideas were dangerous in England, so in 1630, I set sail for the New World, hoping to find a place where my beliefs could flourish.

I arrived in Massachusetts Bay, but it didn’t take long for my views to clash with the Puritan leadership. I spoke openly against their practice of blending church and state. I argued that it was wrong to take land from the Native Americans without fair payment. I said that no government had the right to force anyone to follow a specific religion. These beliefs earned me powerful enemies. By 1635, I was banished from the colony and forced to flee into the wilderness in the dead of winter.

Yet, I did not give up. With the help of the Narragansett people, who showed me great kindness, I survived and found a new home. In 1636, I founded the colony of Rhode Island, where freedom of religion would be a cornerstone. Here, we welcomed people of all beliefs—Quakers, Jews, and even those who had no religion at all. Rhode Island became a beacon of religious liberty, a place where people could live without fear of persecution for their faith.

I also worked to build respectful relationships with the Native American tribes, believing that they deserved the same dignity and fairness as anyone else. I learned their languages and negotiated treaties. My respect for their cultures and their rights was central to my vision of justice.

Later in life, I wrote extensively about the importance of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. My writings would inspire generations to come, including the founders of this nation, who enshrined these principles in the First Amendment to the Constitution.

I died in 1683, but my legacy lives on. The idea that everyone should be free to worship—or not worship—according to their own beliefs remains one of the most cherished ideals of this nation. To you, I say this: never be afraid to stand up for what you believe is right, even if it means standing alone. The world may not always agree with you, but your courage and convictions can plant the seeds of change.

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