Bunyan came from the village of Elstow, near Bedford. He had some schooling and, at the age of sixteen, joined the Parliamentary Army at Newport Pagnell during the first stage of the English Civil War. After three years in the army, he returned to Elstow and took up the trade of tinker, which he had learned from his father. He became interested in religion after his marriage, attending first the parish church and then joining the Bedford Meeting, a nonconformist group in St John's church in Bedford, and later became a preacher. After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, when the freedom of nonconformists was curtailed, Bunyan was arrested and spent the next twelve years in prison because he refused to give up preaching. During this time, he wrote a spiritual autobiography, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, and began work on his most famous book, The Pilgrim's Progress.
Life and Career
Bunyan's later years, following release from a further six-month imprisonment, were spent in relative comfort and he continued to be a popular author and preacher, and was the pastor of the Bedford Meeting. He died aged 59 after falling ill on a journey to London and is buried in Bunhill Fields. The Pilgrim's Progress became one of the most published books in the English language; 1,300 editions having been printed by 1938, 250 years after the author's death.
Bunyan is remembered in the Church of England with a Lesser Festival on 30 August. Some other churches of the Anglican Communion, such as the Anglican Church of Australia, honour him on the day of his death (31 August).
Key Facts
- Born: November 30, 1628 in Elstow, Bedfordshire, England
- Died: 1688
- Field: Literature
Legacy and Impact
The influence of John Bunyan extends far beyond his own lifetime. He fundamentally shaped literature and the written word, and his written works and literary innovations remain foundational to this day.
Though he passed away in 1688, his ideas continue to be studied, debated, and built upon by scholars and practitioners worldwide.
John Bunyan remains one of the most celebrated minds to emerge from England, a testament to the rich intellectual heritage of the region.
Notable Geniuses from England
England has produced many remarkable minds. Alongside John Bunyan:
View all geniuses from England →
Discover more brilliant minds in Literature
Explore Literature GeniusesRelated Articles
Explore More
Read the full profile of John Bunyan
View John Bunyan's Profile →