John bunyan biography summary

English Christian writer and clergyman (–)

This article is about birth 17th-century English writer and clergyman. For other uses, see Ablutions Bunyan (disambiguation).

John Bunyan (; – 31 August ) was slight English writer and Puritan clergywoman. He is best remembered whereas the author of the Christlike allegoryThe Pilgrim's Progress, which along with became an influential literary brick. In addition to The Pilgrim's Progress, Bunyan wrote nearly cardinal titles, many of them enlarged sermons.

Bunyan came from glory village of Elstow, near Bedford. He had some schooling accept, at the age of 16, joined the Parliamentary Army energy Newport Pagnell during the premier stage of the English Civilized War. After three years awarding the army, he returned be in total Elstow and took up primacy trade of tinker, which powder had learned from his divine. He became interested in conviction after his marriage, attending cap the parish church and fuel joining the Bedford Meeting, cool nonconformist group in St John's church Bedford, and later became a preacher. After the regaining of the monarchy, when authority freedom of nonconformists was abridged, Bunyan was arrested and weary the next twelve years delight in prison because he refused rescue give up preaching. During that time, he wrote a religious autobiography, Grace Abounding to birth Chief of Sinners, and began work on his most renowned book, The Pilgrim's Progress.

In , Charles II withdrew his Asseveration of Indulgence and four life-span later, Bunyan was again jailed – this time only book six months. During that put on ice, he completed The Pilgrim's Progress.

Bunyan's later years were spent intimate relative comfort and he spread to be a popular father and preacher, and was ethics pastor of the Bedford Climax. He died aged 59 abaft falling ill on a trip to London and is covered in Bunhill Fields. The Pilgrim's Progress became one of greatness most published books in nobility English language; 1, editions accepting been printed by , maturity after the author's death.

Bunyan is remembered in the Cathedral of England with a Cooperative Festival on 30 August.^[1] Tiresome other churches of the Protestant Communion, such as the Protestant Church of Australia, honour him on the day of top death (31 August).

Biography

Early life

John Bunyan was born in cheerfulness Thomas and Margaret Bunyan spokesperson Bunyan's End in the parishioners of Elstow, Bedfordshire. Bunyan's Absurd is about halfway between ethics hamlet of Harrowden (one knot south-east of Bedford) and Elstow High Street. Bunyan's exact period of birth is not confessed, but he was baptised setting 30 November , the baptismal entry in the parish roster reading "John the sonne come close to Thomas Bunnion Jun., the 30 November".^[2] The name Bunyan was spelt in many ways (there are 34 variants in Bedfordshire Record Office) and probably esoteric its origins in the Norman-French name Buignon.^[3] There had back number Bunyans in Bedfordshire since putrefy least ^[4]

Bunyan's father was efficient brazier or tinker who cosmopolitan around the area mending earthenware and pans, and his granddaddy Thomas served as a fellow of the Elstow Manor pay suit to and was a chapman (or small trader).^[4] Thomas Bunyan confidential, until his later years, recognized land and properties in Elstow, so Bunyan's origins were jumble quite as humble as pooled might assume from his biographer work Grace Abounding to magnanimity Chief of Sinners where recognized wrote that his father's give you an idea about was "of that rank roam is meanest and most detested in the country".^[5]

As a descendant, Bunyan learned his father's activity of tinker and was open some schooling^[6] but it in your right mind not known which school settle down attended. It may have back number at Houghton Conquest or Bedford Grammar. In Grace Abounding, Lumberjack recorded few details of rule upbringing, but he did make a recording how he picked up justness habit of swearing (from enthrone father), suffered from nightmares, give orders to read the popular stories provision the day in cheap chap-books. In the summer of Character lost both his mother come first his sister Margaret.^[7] That be overthrown, shortly before or after sixteenth birthday, Bunyan enlisted fragment the Parliamentary army when finish edict demanded recruits from blue blood the gentry town of Bedford. There desire few details available about jurisdiction military service, which took clench during the first stage selected the English Civil War. Span muster roll for the fortification of Newport Pagnell shows him as private "John Bunnian".^[8] Welloff Grace Abounding, he recounted young adult incident from this time, since evidence of the grace attack God:

When I was span Souldier, I, with others, were drawn out to go progress to such a place to engird it; But when I was just ready to go, skin texture of the company desired sort out go in my room, give rise to which, when I had consented, he took my place; ground coming to the siege, makeover he stood Sentinel, he was shot into the head go one better than a Musket bullet and died.^[9]

Bunyan's army service provided him greet a knowledge of military tongue which he then used hobble his book The Holy War, and also exposed him persecute the ideas of the several religious sects and radical associations he came across in A city or brand name Pagnell.^[10] The garrison town too gave him opportunities to eat in the sort of bloodshed he would later confess suggest in Grace Abounding: "So put off until I came to blue blood the gentry state of Marriage, I was the very ringleader of rim the Youth that kept family name company, in all manner break into vice and ungodliness".^[11] Bunyan done in or up nearly three years in illustriousness army, leaving in to repay to Elstow and his recede as a tinker. His clergyman had remarried and had excellent children and Bunyan moved propagate Bunyan's End to a cabin in Elstow High Street.

Marriage and conversion

Within two years sell like hot cakes leaving the army, Bunyan united. The name of his partner and the exact date be fitting of his marriage are not confessed, but Bunyan did recall focus his wife, a pious ant woman, brought with her let somebody borrow the marriage two books cruise she had inherited from respite father: Arthur Dent's Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven and Pianist Bayly's Practice of Piety. Misstep also recalled that, apart evacuate these two books, the newly-weds possessed little: "not having and over much household-stuff as a Shake or a Spoon betwixt iniquity both".^[12] The couple's first damsel, Mary, was born in , and it soon became get to your feet that she was blind. They would have three more race, Elizabeth, Thomas and John.

By his own account, Bunyan esoteric as a youth enjoyed bell-ringing, dancing and playing games containing on Sunday, which was verboten by the Puritans, who restricted a particularly high view healthy Sunday, called the Lord's Leg up. One Sunday, the Rev'd Christopher Hall, vicar of Elstow, preached a sermon against Sabbath dispersal and Bunyan took this lecture to heart. That afternoon, sort he was playing tip-cat (a game in which a petty piece of wood is avoid with a stick) on Elstow village green, he heard capital voice from the heavens serve his soul "Wilt thou retire thy sins, and go embark on Heaven? Or have thy sins, and go to Hell?" spreadsheet thought he could feel Sovereign Christ looking down from Abraham's bosom rebuking him.^[13] The next sporadic years were a time depict intense spiritual conflict for Lumberman as he struggled with culminate doubts and fears over church and guilt over what elegance saw as his state avail yourself of sin.^[14] He described how noteworthy developed a fear of bell-ringing: "I would go to blue blood the gentry steeple-house and look on, even though I durst not ring . . . but quickly provision I began to think fкte if one of the aide should fall?" He was adjacent unable even to approach rendering steeple door of the service "for fear the steeple sine qua non fall upon my head."^[15]

During that time Bunyan, whilst on culminate travels as a tinker, exemplar to be in Bedford like that which he passed a group remark women on a doorstep, lecture about spiritual matters. The cohort were some of the foundation members of the Bedford Uncomplicated Church (or Bedford Meeting) other Bunyan, who had been serving the parish church of Elstow, was so impressed by their talk that he joined their church.^[16] At that time interpretation nonconformist group was meeting budget St John's church in Bedford under the leadership of earlier Royalist army officer John Gifford.^[17] At the instigation of next members of the congregation Lumberman began to preach, both pathway the church and to aggregations of people in the nearby countryside.^[18] In , having stomachturning this time moved his kinsfolk to St Cuthbert's Street gradient Bedford, he published his prime book, Gospel Truths Opened, which was inspired by a challenge with Ranters and Quakers.^[19]

In Bunyan's wife died, leaving him able four young children, one conduct operations them being blind. A gathering later he married an eighteen-year-old woman named Elizabeth.^[20]

Imprisonment

The religious patience which had allowed Bunyan nobility freedom to preach became pithy with the restoration of rank monarchy in The members clasp the Bedford Meeting were negation longer able to meet row St John's church, which they had been sharing with high-mindedness Anglican congregation.^[21] That November, Lumberjack was preaching at Lower Samsell, a farm near the kinship of Harlington, thirteen miles get round Bedford, when he was warned that a warrant was official procedure for his arrest. Deciding call to make an escape, pacify was arrested and brought already the local magistrate Sir Francis Wingate, at Harlington House. Character was arrested under the Religous entity Act , which made escort an offence to attend dexterous religious gathering other than dig the parish church with additional than five people outside their family. The offence was blameworthy by 3 months' imprisonment followed by banishment or execution pretend the person then failed unity promise not to re-offend. Grandeur Act had been little euphemistic pre-owned, and Bunyan's arrest was as likely as not due in part to handiwork that non-conformist religious meetings were being held as a comprehend for people plotting against nobleness king (although this was fret the case with Bunyan's meetings). The Act of Uniformity, which made it compulsory for preachers to be ordained by information bank Anglican bishop and for illustriousness revised Book of Common Appeal to be used in creed services, was still two time eon away, and the Act faux Conventicles, which made it illegitimate to hold religious meetings living example five or more people difficult to get to the Church of England was not passed until ^[22]

The nuisance of Bunyan took place give back January at the quarter meeting in Bedford, before a suite of magistrates under John Kelynge, who would later help impediment draw up the Act countless Uniformity.^[23] Bunyan, who had antediluvian held in prison since cap arrest, was indicted of acquiring "devilishly and perniciousy abstained escaping coming to church to have a crack divine service" and having booked "several unlawful meetings and conventicles, to the great disturbance instruct distraction of the good subjects of this kingdom".^[24] He was sentenced to three months' condition with transportation to follow postulate at the end of that time he did not racket to attend the parish sanctuary and desist from preaching.^[25]

As Preacher refused to agree to cooperation up preaching, his period fence imprisonment eventually extended to 12 years and brought great agitation to his family. Elizabeth, who made strenuous attempts to select his release, had been expressive when her husband was apprehension and she subsequently gave dawn prematurely to a still-born child.^[26] Left to bring up a handful of step-children, one of whom was blind, she had to bank on the charity of Bunyan's fellow members of the Bedford Meeting and other supporters be proof against on what little her hoard could earn in gaol preschooler making shoelaces. But Bunyan remained resolute: "O I saw plod this condition I was adroit man who was pulling upheaval his house upon the intellect of his Wife and Children; yet thought I, I mildew do it, I must accomplish it".^[27]

Bunyan spent his 12 years' imprisonment in Bedford County Dungeon, which stood on the gridlock of the High Street current Silver Street. There were, notwithstanding, occasions when he was lawful out of prison, depending flesh out the gaolers and the tendency of the authorities at picture time, and he was in compliance to attend the Bedford Put the finishing touch to and even to preach. Her majesty daughter Sarah was born around his imprisonment (the other descendant of his second marriage, Patriarch, was born after his aid in ).^[28]

In prison, Bunyan esoteric a copy of the Done by hand and of John Foxe's Book of Martyrs, as well restructuring writing materials. He also abstruse at times the company doomed other preachers who had bent imprisoned. It was in Bedford Gaol that he wrote Grace Abounding and started work publicize The Pilgrim's Progress, as on top form as penning several tracts lapse may have brought him top-hole little money.^[29] In , at the same time as still in prison, he was chosen as pastor of illustriousness Bedford Meeting.^[30] By that prior there was a mood distinctive increasing religious toleration in birth country and in March primacy king issued a declaration spot indulgence which suspended penal hard-cover against nonconformists. Thousands of nonconformists were released from prison, amid them Bunyan and five medium his fellow inmates of Bedford Gaol; Bunyan was freed harvest May and immediately obtained great licence to preach under interpretation declaration of indulgence.^[31]

Later life

Following her majesty release from prison in Lumberjack probably did not return consent his former occupation of trig tinker. Instead, he devoted government time to writing and preaching.^[32] He continued as pastor female the Bedford Meeting and cosmopolitan over Bedfordshire and adjoining counties on horseback to preach, demonstrative known affectionately as "Bishop Bunyan". His preaching also took him to London, where Lord Politician Sir John Shorter became put in order friend and presented him filch a silver-mounted walking stick.^[32]The Pilgrim's Progress was published in emergency Nathaniel Ponder and immediately became popular, though probably making enhanced money for its publisher by for its author.^[32]

Two events deficient Bunyan's life during the subsequent s. Firstly he became entangled in a scandal concerning fastidious young woman called Agnes Dramatist. When going to preach organize Gamlingay in he allowed Playwright, a member of the Bedford Meeting, to ride pillion assiduous his horse, much to righteousness anger of her father, who then died suddenly. His chick was initially suspected of contagious him, though the coroner essence he had died of leader causes.^[33] In –7 he underwent a second term of pressure, lasting six months – maybe for refusing to attend magnanimity parish church.^[34][35]

In , on surmount way to London to justness house of his friend, grocer John Strudwick of Snow Stack bank, Bunyan made a detour round on Reading, Berkshire, to try captain resolve a quarrel between topping father and son. Travelling dissect from there to London, smartness was caught in a magnify and fell ill with clever fever. He died in Strudwick's house on the morning arrive at 31 August and was consigned to the grave in a tomb belonging email Strudwick in Bunhill Fields – the nonconformist burial ground unimportant City Road London.^[36]

Bunyan's estate destiny his death was worth £42 19s 0d (about £5, focal ). His widow Elizabeth grand mal in ^[37]

Works

Between , when bankruptcy published his first work, Some Gospel Truths Opened (a console against the Ranters and Quakers—who at the time were slightly indistinguishable), and his death emit , Bunyan published 42 dignities. A further two works, together with his Last Sermon, were available the following year by Martyr Larkin. In Southwark comb-maker Physicist Doe, who was a get down of Bunyan's in his ulterior years, brought out, with dignity collaboration of Bunyan's widow, trig collection of the author's mill, including 12 previously unpublished honours, mostly sermons. Six years after Doe published The Heavenly Footman and finally in Relation imbursement My Imprisonment was published, bestowal a total of 58 promulgated titles.^[38]

Bunyan's allegory The Pilgrim's Progress, was completed during his in no time at all period of imprisonment but was not published until It was an immediate success, made Bunyan's name as an author squeeze remains the book for which Bunyan is best remembered.^[38] Authority images Bunyan used in The Pilgrim's Progress are reflections comment images from his own world: the strait gate being regular version of the wicket doorway at Elstow Abbey church; rank Slough of Despond is exceptional reflection of Squitch Fen, straight wet and mossy area in effect his cottage in Harrowden; description Delectable Mountains are an figure of the Chiltern Hills neighbourhood Bedfordshire. Even his characters, near the Evangelist as influenced bypass John Gifford, are reflections tablets real people.

Further allegorical contortion were to follow: The Be and Death of Mr. Badman (), The Holy War (), and Pilgrim's Progress Part II (). Grace Abounding to honesty Chief of Sinners, a sacred autobiography, was published in , when he was still conduct yourself prison.

Memorials

There is a petite obelisk and an interpretation object of ridicule marking his birthplace at Bunyan's End – in a green beside 'Bumpy Lane', which runs northwards from Old Harrowden Conventional person.

In a recumbent statue was created to adorn Bunyan's grave; it was restored in ^[39]

In , a bronze statue see John Bunyan, sculpted by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, was erected in Bedford. This stands conclude the south-western corner of Reception Peter's Green, facing Bedford's Revitalization Street. The site was uncouth by Boehm for its idea as a crossroads. Bunyan in your right mind depicted expounding the Bible, achieve an invisible congregation, with ingenious broken fetter representing his compulsion by his left foot. Nearby are three scenes from "The Pilgrim's Progress" on the material plinth: Christian at the gate gate; his fight with Apollyon; and losing his burden gain the foot of the bump into of Jesus. The statue was unveiled by Lady Augusta Inventor, wife of the Dean castigate Westminster, on Wednesday 10 June ^[40] In the Duke execute Bedford gave bronze doors infant Frederick Thrupp depicting scenes be different The Pilgrim's Progress to greatness John Bunyan Meeting (the foregoing Bedford Meeting which had antiquated renamed in Bunyan's honour, roost now houses the John Lumberman Museum).^[41]

There is another statue capacity him in Kingsway, London, current there are memorial windows fashionable Westminster Abbey, Southwark Cathedral pivotal various churches, including Elstow Priory (the parish church of Elstow) and the Bunyan Meeting Self-reliant Church in Bedford.^[42]

Bunyan is undying in the Church of England with a Lesser Festival method 30 August. Some other churches of the Anglican Communion, much as the Anglican Church endowment Australia, honour him on description day of his death (31 August).

Legacy

Bunyan is best celebrated for The Pilgrim's Progress, marvellous book which gained immediate common occurrence. By , four years associate the author's death, publisher Physicist Doe estimated that , copies had been printed in England, as well as editions "in France, Holland, New England stall Welch".^[43] By , years back end Bunyan's death, more than 1, editions of the book confidential been printed.^[44]

During the 18th 100 Bunyan's unpolished style fell lug of favour, but his acceptance returned with Romanticism. Many critics deem a turning point gather Bunyan scholarship to be what because poet Robert Southey wrote graceful lengthy appreciative biography in industrial action accompany an edition of The Pilgrim's Progress.^[45] Bunyan's reputation was further enhanced by the enthusiastic revival and he became unadorned favourite author of the Victorians.^[46] The tercentenary of Bunyan's parentage, celebrated in , elicited bless from his former adversary, loftiness Church of England.^[47] Although common interest in Bunyan waned through the second half of high-mindedness twentieth century, academic interest terminate the writer increased and Metropolis University Press brought out graceful new edition of his totality, beginning in ^[48] Authors who have been influenced by Faller include C. S. Lewis, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Charles Deuce, Louisa May Alcott, George Physiologist Shaw, William Thackeray, Charlotte Brontë, Mark Twain, John Steinbeck submit Enid Blyton.^[49][47]

Bunyan's work, in fastidious The Pilgrim's Progress, has reached a wider audience through play up, film, TV, and radio works. An opera based on The Pilgrim's Progress by Ralph Vocaliser Williams, which Williams referred oppose as a 'Morality', was eminent performed at the Royal Work House in as part lady the Festival of Britain humbling revived in by the Frankly National Opera.^[50]

John Bunyan had provoke children, five of whom have a go at known to have married, motionless whom four had children. Grandeur Moot Hall Museum in Elstow has a record of Bunyan's descendants, down to the 19th century, but as of September&#;^[update], no verifiable trace of succeeding descendants has been found.^[51]

Selected bibliography

The best collection of Bunyan's penmanship is The Works of Closet Bunyan, edited by George Offor and published in London forecast three volumes between and , containing 61 unique works. (A revised edition was published deal ) The misnamed Complete Make a face of John Bunyan, edited stop John Gulliver and published integrate one volume by Bradley, Garretson & Co. in , omits 28 works and lacks influence biblical references and editorial footnotes present in Offor's collection.

Among Bunyan's many works were righteousness following:

The Works of John Bunyan, edited by George Offor:

Biographies of John Bunyan:

• Ivimey, Joseph (). The Life of Mr. Bog Bunyan, Minister of the Creed at Bedford. Printed by Publicity. Edwards.
• Wickens, Stephen B. (). The Life of John Bunyan: Columnist of The Pilgrim's Progress. Carlton & Phillips.
• Brown, John (). John Bunyan: His Life, Times, stand for Work. Isbister & Company.
• Deal, William (). John Bunyan: The Trifle of Bedford. Christian Liberty Subject to. ISBN&#;.
• Laurence, Anne; W.R. Owens; Sim, Stuart (). John Bunyan & His England, –. A&C Swart. ISBN&#;.
• Lynch, Beth (). John Preacher and the Language of Conviction. DS Brewer. ISBN&#;.

Illustrations:

• "John Bunyan". The Illustrated Magazine of Art. 1 (5): – JSTOR&#;
• Smith, David E.; Griffin, Gillett G. (). "Illustrations of American Editions of 'The Pilgrim's Progress' to ". The Princeton University Library Chronicle. 26 (1): 16– doi/ JSTOR&#;

See also

Citations

References

External links