What role did religion play in the founding of english colonies?

I'm going to assume this is about the eventually-thirteen colonies, but ask if you need it for different English colonies. Essentially, religious groups like Quakers and Protestants were outnumbered and persecuted against in England so they went to America, where they in turn persecuted against those who where different from them with acts such as banishing. (example: mormons when "Manifest Destiny" began). 

Hope this will !