JOHN LOTHROPP, A RETROSPECTIVE with Gordon Lothrop. Rev. John Lothropp (1584–1653) — sometimes spelled Lothrop or Lathrop — was an English Anglican clergyman, who became a Congregationalist minister and emigrant to New England. He was among the first settlers of Barnstable, Massachusetts.  Perhaps Lothropp's principal claim to fame was that he was a strong proponent of the idea of the Separation of Church and State (also called "Freedom of Religion"). This idea was considered heretical in England during his time, but eventually became the mainstream view of people in the United States, because of the efforts of John Lothropp and others.    SPONSORS:  LUCY LOOMIS & DAN SANTOS