 Protestantism continued to expand in this period and became more distinct from those who wanted reform within the existing church.Originally organised as conventicles that consisted of members of a laird's family, or kin group and social networks, who continued to attend the Catholic Church, Protestants began to develop a series of privy kirks (secret churches), whose members increasingly turned away from existing church structures.Their organisation was sufficient in 1555 for Knox to return to Scotland.