This work investigates the complex political and religious tensions surrounding the proposed establishment of an Anglican episcopate in the American colonies prior to the Revolution. Arthur Lyon Cross, a distinguished historian of the period, utilizes extensive archival research and primary source documentation to analyze how the fear of ecclesiastical authority contributed to the growing divide between the colonies and the British government. The text argues that the struggle over the appointment of bishops was not merely a religious dispute but a significant factor in the development of American political identity and resistance to imperial control.

This text is regarded as a foundational academic study on the ecclesiastical dimensions of the American colonial experience. The scholarly rigor and depth of research make it a standard reference for historians examining the religious precursors to the American Revolution.