| John Bunyan Museum | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1998 |
| Location | Mill Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, England |
| Type | Biographical museum |
| Website | John Bunyan Museum |
John Bunyan Museum is a museum primarily dedicated to the life, times and works of John Bunyan. The museum is located in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.[1]
John Bunyan (1628 – 1688), a Christian writer and preacher, was born in Harrowden (one mile south-east of Bedford), in the Parish of Elstow, England. He wrote The Pilgrim's Progress, arguably the most famous published Christian allegory. In the Church of England he is remembered with a Lesser Festival on 30 August.
In 1672, the congregation led by Bunyan purchased a barn which they used to conduct worship. Eventually, a church, which came to be called the Bunyan Meeting Free Church, was built on the site of the barn. In 1849, a second church was built which is still used for services. A separate museum building was constructed on the compound in 1998 and the Bunyan artifacts and memorabilia formerly housed in a small museum room in the church moved into it.[2]
The museum has a number of recreation scenes from Bunyan's life which also show some of Bedford's social history in the 17th century. In addition there are artifacts such as Bunyan's iron violin and wooden flute, Bunyan's stoneware jug he used in prison as well as his will and a third edition of The Pilgrim's Progress.[3]