"He is able .... to keep..."

Wednesday 27 June 2012

BEDFORD




Recently, on our way South to a wedding, we stayed overnight in our camper van just outside the town of Bedford. Next morning we visited the handsome Bunyan Meeting Free Church, built in 1850, replacing an older one built in 1707. Before that, in 1672 stood an old barn in an orchard, which was bought and converted into the first meeting place of Bunyan and his congregation.




The inside is beautiful. On 2 sides of the church, there are stained glass windows illustrating scenes from Bunyan's celebrated book, Pilgrim's Progress.





Beside the Meeting House there is a very interesting museum, depicting the life and times of this man, whose book, Pilgrim's Progress has been translated into 200 languages.

In the town on a corner of St. Peter's Green there is a statue which was erected in his honour in  1874.




John Bunyan (1628-1688) was born into a poor family. As a child and young man he was unruly. Swearing, cursing and lying became second nature to him.  However, after he became a Christian there was a radical change in him. He became a preacher and author, and in those times when those who wished to uphold the teaching of the Bible in all matters of worship and way of life, he was imprisoned for his stand. He used his time of deprivation in prison to do some of his best and most influential writing.