William Hutchinson in his The Spirit of Freemasonry (1775), with Grand Lodge official sanction, rejected any direct lineage to operative masons. But many masons continue to accept that lineage.
There is a possibility of simultaneous operative guild masonry and the speculative Craft in the 17th century. It is possible that associations became non-operative after the cessation of church building around 1540; it should be noted that nine lodges founded in the 18th century bear the word "Operative" in their names to this day. It is possible that the dissolution of the monasteries played a role. It is also possible that there are multiple sources.
Worshipful Omnipotent Overlord of the Worthy Oriental Order of the Knights who say Woo! "When you are the anvil, bear - when you are the hammer, strike." - Edwin Markham