I understand that many settlers of the original thirteen English colonies in America were Protestants (or Puritans, specifically) who left Europe in search for better religious freedom.
However, since many settlers were driven by economic motives, there must have been decent religious diversity in America even during the period of colonization (up to 1776).
How was this reflected in everyday life? Was there, for instance, a protestant majority who took power and suppressed other beliefs? Were there many different churches competing with each other? What where the daily implications of this fact for the common settler?
I am aware that an answer to this may differ greatly when taking into account different colonies of different origins. I am mainly asking about the southern colonies, that is, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland and the Carolinas.
I am also looking specifically at the eighteenth century, when development of the colonies was well underway.