Stamford has a very long history of nonconformity to the Established Church.
The 1662 Act of Uniformity required all ministers to give assent and consent to everything in the Book of Common Prayer, and that the Revised Liturgy of the Church of England be used in all places of worship. If ministers could not do this, they were ejected from their livings.
Among those who were ejected was Mr. Richardson, Rector of St. Michael’s. These ministers continued to hold meetings for worship in private houses. The Five Mile Act of 1665 forbade ejected ministers to live within 5 miles of corporate towns or to teach in schools.
People who did not worship at the Established churches became known as Dissenters, or those who did not assent to the Liturgy of the Church of England.