The Puritans wanted to "purify" the Church of England when moving to the New World. The goal of this group was to escape the religious persecution they faced in England and start over new in the American colonies. When this group settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, their goal was to be a "city upon a hill." This phrase describes their desire to make a religious colony which all other colonies can base their actions on. This colony would be lead by John Winthrop.