By the time King James I ascended the throne of England, the conflict between the Puritans and the English church had reached a fever pitch. In fear that such dissent within the church would soon translate into division within the kingdom, King James called the Hampton Court Conference in 1604. Hampton Court was one of the king’s royal residences located near London.
King James called the Hampton Court Conference for political, not religious purposes. He personally felt that trivial things like church doctrine were beneath his royal dignity.