BOOK ELSTOW HOTELS

John Bunyan
- Favourite Briton.

Born in Elstow, Bedfordshire
Born on 28th of November 1628
Died on 31st of August 1688

Quotes from John Bunyan

'One leak will sink a ship: and'... More

John Bunyan was born on 28th November 1628 and died August 31st 1688. He was a Christian writer and preacher, born in Harrowden, Bedford. He is most famous for his work, 'The Pilgrim's Progress', written in two parts, the first of which was published in 1678 and the second in 1684. He started writing the allegory whilst in prison for preaching without a licence. Bunyan had very little schooling and worked as a tinker as well as serving in the parliamentary army between 1644 and 1647. He married a pious young woman called Mary in 1649 who influenced him towards a religious life. He lived in Elstow until his wife died in 1655 and then he moved to Bedford and married again in 1659. In 1658 Bunyan was indicted for preaching without a licence. However he refused to stop and ended up serving a period of nearly 12 years in prison from 1660. He was released in 1672 when Charles II issued the Declaration of Religious Indulgence. In the same month he was released he became pastor of St. Paul's Church, Bedfordbut was again imprisoned for six months when the Declaration of Religious Indulgence was withdrawn. Bunyan wrote about 60 books and tracts of which 'The Holy War' ranks next to 'The Pilgrim's Progress' in popularity, whilst his spiritual autobiography, 'Grace Abounding' proved to be one of the most interesting biographies of all time in which he confesses to the sins of 'profanity, dancing and bell-ringing'! 'The Pilgrim's Progress' is considered one of the greatest classics of literature, having been translated into more than 100 languages. A passage from part two of 'The Pilgrim's Progress' has been used in the hymn 'To Be A Pilgrim'. The John Bunyan Museum is housed in the church where Bunyan was once a minister in Bedford. His grave lies in the cemetery at Bunhill Fields in London.

Links:
internal link The John Bunyan Museum
http://acacia.pair.com/Acacia.John.Bunyan/ Acacia John Bunyan Online Library

More famous Britons here

Contributors: Do you have a site related to John Bunyan?
Supply some content for this page and we will gladly add a link to your site. Email here.

24098 views since 31st January 2007

Brit Quote:
In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in failure. - Samuel Taylor Coleridge
More Quotes

On this day:
St Augustine Introduces Julian Calendar to England - 0597, William the Conqueror crowned - 1066, Domesday Book Commissioned - 1085, First Christmas Tree in Britain - 1800, Mrs Beeton Published - 1861, End of the Soviet Union - 1991
More dates from British history

click here to view all the British counties

County Pages