Who were the reformers seeking total purification of English Christianity?

The choice of Puritans as the reformers seeking total purification of English Christianity is well-founded, as they emerged in the late 16th and early 17th centuries aiming to "purify" the Church of England of its remaining Roman Catholic practices and influence. Their mission was rooted in a desire for a more disciplined and pious form of worship and church governance, emphasizing personal holiness and scripture-based practices.

Puritans believed that the Church of England had not gone far enough in reforming its doctrines and rituals and sought to make the church more aligned with their interpretation of the Bible. They pushed for simpler worship services, more direct preaching, and congregational governance rather than reliance on episcopal hierarchy. This focus on thoroughgoing reform was a defining characteristic of the Puritan movement, distinguishing them from other groups like Anglicans, who were more accepting of the church's existing structure, and later denominations such as Methodists and Baptists, who had different theological focuses and practices.