This rather fine statue is by sculptor Richard Garbe and
shows Bunyan in the garb of the mid 17th century. The statue, that is about one
and a half times life-size, is carved in Portland stone. It shows Bunyan with a
book resting on his left forearm with his fingers curled back into the pages of
the book as if not to lose his place. His right arm is across his chest with his
with his right hand in a fist resting on the book. His gaze is down to the
street below.
The plinth, on which the statue stands, is inscribed:
"John Bunyan / 1628 - 1688".
Bunyan was a Christian writer and preacher whose most famous work was "The
Pilgrim's Progress" and, after the Bible, was the second most translated work by
missionaries when they travelled abroad. The statue was made in 1903 and stands
in a niche above the entrance of a former Baptist church, now closed.
The Poem Hunter website (visit
link) tells us about Bunyan:
"Born in the parish of Elstow, in Bedfordshire in
November 1628, to Thomas Bunyan and Margaret Bentley (Thomas's first wife, Anne
Pinney, had died the year before without any surviving children). Being born
into a family with some affluence he was well educated throughout his childhood
and adolescence.
In 1644 he enlisted in the Parliamentary army, joining with the Newport Pagnell
garrison, at the regulation age of sixteen. In 1645 the garrison moved to
Leicester. Most probably, it was here that one of Bunyan's comrades was shot.
"When I was a soldier, I, with others, were drawn out to go to such a place to
besiege it; but when I was just ready to go, one of the company desired to go in
my room; to which, when I had consented, he took my place; and coming to the
siege, as he stood sentinel, he was shot into the head with a musket bullet, and
died." - John Bunyan, from "Grace Abounding"
In June 1645 after seventeen years of marriage, Margaret Bentley, John's mother,
dies. Her death is followed within a month by John's sister Margaret. Two months
after his wife's death, Thomas Bunyan, John's father, marries his third wife.
In August 1646 the order was given that the Newport Pagnell garrison was to be
disbanded, and the soldiers "employed for the service of Ireland".
He returned home from Ireland in 1647 and married his first wife at 20 in 1648
"I changed my condition into a married state, and my mercy was to light upon a
wife whose father was counted godly. This woman and I, though we came together
as poor as poor might be, not having so much household stuff as a dish or spoon
betwixt us both, yet this she had for her part, The Plain Man's Pathway to
Heaven, and The Practice of Piety, which her father had left her when he died."
- John Bunyan, from "Grace Abounding"
The first child is born to he marriage in 1650; A daughter born blind named Mary
In 1655 he Moved to Bedford and became a deacon of St. John's church. His first
wife died soon after move, leaving John with four motherless children.
He Published his first work entitled "Some Gospel Truths Opened" in 1656
followed in 1657 by "Vindication of Gospel Truths". He was then formerly made a
preacher soon after this publication.
In 1658 he published a third work entitled "A Few Sighs From Hell". followed in
1659 by "The Doctrine of the Law and Grace Unfolded". Soon after this
publication he is imprisoned
Publishes "The Doctrine of the Law and Grace Unfolded". This is the last book he
writes before being placed in prison. charged with "devilishly and perniciously
abstaining from coming to Church to hear Divine Service, and for being a common
upholder of several unlawful meetings and conventiclers, to the great
disturbance and distraction of the good subjects of this kingdom, contrary to
the laws of our sovereign lord and king."
Within approximately eight days of John's arrest, his second wife gives birth,
only for the infant to die soon after. "I am but mother-in-law to them, having
not been married to him yet full two years. [Elizabeth, John's second wife,
spoke this in 1661.] Indeed, I was with child when my husband was first
apprehended; but being young, and unaccustomed to such things, said she, I being
smayed at the news, fell into labour, and so continued for eight days, and then
was delivered, but my child died." - John Bunyan's wife, from "A Relation of My
Imprisonment"
"Whereupon I continued in prison till the next assizes, which are called
MIDSUMMER ASSIZES, being then kept in AUGUST, 1661." - John Bunyan, from "A
Relation of My Imprisonment"
His Wife approached the judges in 1662, to ask that her husband's case be
considered. She is denied.
The Assizes of 1662. John endeavours to have his name entered in the calendar of
offenders, so his case would come before the judges. However, the Clerk of the
Peace alters John's entry, thus making it possible for Bunyan to remain in
prison for the next four years. whilst in prison he writes "I Will Pray With the
Spirit and With the Understanding Also, or a Discourse Touching Prayer". "A
Discourse Touching Prayer". "Christian Behaviour". "One Thing Is Needful" "The
Holy City", and "The Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgment" all on
single sheets to be sold by his wife and children, to aid them financially.
in response to a letter he received, exhorting him to hold his head above the
flood, he wrote a poem entitled "Prison Meditations"
Publishes "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners" during a brief period
of freedom followed by re-incarceration
'He was let out again, 1666, being the year of the burning of London, and, a
little after his release, they took him again at a meeting, and put him in the
same jail, where he lay six years more.' - Charles Doe, A friend and biographer
of John Bunyan.
in 1671 he is released from Bedford prison, after twelve years of imprisonment.
His formal pardon is dated September 13, 1672, but he received a royal license
to preach five months earlier.
His most famous piece was first published in 1675 with 12 subsequent
republications and revisions. "The Pilgrim's Progress" was written during yet
another six months of incarceration. After being released the same year, he
resumes his pastorate in Bedford.
He Died on August 31, 1688 after travelling through drenching rain on behalf of
a young man, whose father was angry with him. After succeeding in his mission,
he returns to his lodging on Snow Hill. He then endured ten days of violent
fever, before dieing. He was buried in Bunhill Fields."