John Bunyan - St Peter's Street Green, Bedford, UK
Posted by: 
Dragontree
N 52° 08.333 W 000° 27.996
30U E 673366 N 5779512
John Bunyan was a figure of immense, religious importance and lived between 1628 - 1688.
Waymark Code: WM55MW
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/15/2008
Views: 6
He was the author of the well known book 'Pilgrim's Progress' and was born in Elstow, Bedfordshire. There are items in museums, Elstow Moot Hall, a Pilgrim's Way - public long distance footpath, John Bunyan Church, a stone to show when he was in gaol and various memorials throughout the county and beyond.
John Bunyan was brought up to be a tinker like his father but after his mother died he enlisted in the army. After the army was disbanded he married and began to become interested in religion, being a Puritan. Taken with the church he began preaching and was very popular. However, as he was unlicensed to preach he was arrested and spent between 1661 and 1672 in prison. It was inside where he wrote and published several books and his autobiography.
When he was released he was Minister of Bedford but shortly after he was arrested and imprisoned again during the winter of 1675-6. It was then that he compiled 'Pilgrim's Progress'. In 1688 he travelled to London and died there being buried in Bunhill Fields.
The statue stands in Bedford town centre on the corner of St Peter's and Tavistock Street near to St Peter's Church. The nine foot high statue was donated by Hastings, Duke of Bedford, in 1874.
Associated Religion(s): Christianity
Statue Location: St Peter's Street Green
Entrance Fee: None
Website: [Web Link]
Artist: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Take a picture of the statue. A waymarker and/or GPSr is not required to be in the image but it doesn't hurt.