Bunyan

John Bunyan (c. 1628–1688) was an English writer and preacher and one of the most prominent figures in 17th-century English Protestantism. Born in Elstow near Bedford, he served in the Parliamentary army during the Civil War and underwent a personal conversion that led him to become a preacher and a Baptist minister. As a Nonconformist, his preaching brought him into conflict with the authorities, and he was imprisoned for twelve years in Bedford Gaol (1660–1672) for preaching without a license.

During confinement, Bunyan wrote extensively. His works include Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (1666), an autobiographical account of his spiritual awakening, and The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come (1678), his best-known work. The Pilgrim’s Progress is a central example of English religious literature and has been translated into many languages and widely read around the world. Bunyan also authored The Holy War (1682), an allegorical tale about the conquest of the heart by good and evil.

Released from prison in 1672, Bunyan became a prominent preacher for the Baptists and served as pastor of the Bedford congregation, continuing to write and preach until his death. He died in London in 1688 and was buried at Bunhill Fields.

Bunyan’s writings significantly influenced Puritan and Baptist thought and helped popularize allegory in evangelical literature. His plain, accessible prose and vivid storytelling have left a lasting legacy in both religious and literary contexts.