The Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire
We are thankful to Susan Lousada, the Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire who gives her full support to the Bunyan 400 Project:
“It gives me great pleasure, as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, to express my support for the Bunyan 400 celebrations. John Bunyan is one of Bedfordshire’s greatest sons, whose remarkable story and enduring work, The Pilgrim’s Progress, continue to inspire people across the world. These commemorations are a wonderful opportunity to honour his lasting legacy, while also celebrating the pride we share in Bedfordshire’s rich history. I warmly encourage our communities to come together in marking this special anniversary and to take inspiration from the life of a true Bedfordshire hero.”
Mohammad Yasin, MP
We are thankful to Mohammad for his ongoing support – “I am delighted to support the Bunyan 400 project, celebrating our rich local heritage and the enduring legacy of John Bunyan. I congratulate the efforts of volunteers who have worked so hard to bring this initiative to fruition. It will enrich our community, inspire future generations, and highlight the cultural significance of our town on a national stage.”
Tom Wootton, Mayor of Bedford
The Mayor of Bedford, Tom Wootton, speaking at the launch of Bunyan 400, giving his full support to the Project. To find out more about the launch of Bunyan 400 and the pledges of support we have received, visit The story so far.
Baptist Historical Society
The Society encourages the safe-keeping and preservation of church
records, especially in England, publishes books relating to Baptist
history and identity, produces a quarterly refereed Journal, maintains
an international membership of individual and corporate members and
organises periodic conferences and day events.
Bedford Council of Faiths
The Bedford Council of Faiths brings together members of different faith communities on a regular basis and provide valuable services to the Bedfordshire community such as public talks, consultation and educational events.
Bedford Music Club
Bedford Music Club celebrates connections between music, history, culture and community. Through innovative series of concerts and events, it explores how diverse musical traditions shape classical compositions, promoting inclusivity and creativity.
Bedford Music Service
Bedford Music Service is part of the BLMK Music Hub, which brings together lots of different people and organisations – like schools, local councils, arts groups and community clubs – who all work together to make sure children and young people have great opportunities to enjoy and learn music.
Bedford Radio
Bedford Radio is the volunteer-run, not-for-profit local radio station
for Bedford and the surrounding area. It can be heard on DAB digital
radio in Bedford, online, via smart speaker, or through the free Bedford
Radio app.
Bedford Sings
Bedford sings aims to develop choral singing in and around Bedford. It was born out of years of creating and conducting choirs, attending choral concerts, writing for them and simply wanting to celebrate the joy of singing together in Bedford.
Congregational Library and Archives, Boston, USA
The Congregational Library & Archives fosters a deeper understanding of the spiritual, intellectual, cultural, and civic dimensions of the Congregational story and its ongoing relevance to contemporary society by collecting, preserving, and sharing materials and by actively engaging with faith communities, students, scholars, and the general public.
Congregational Federation
Bringing together independent free churches for mutual support and the advancement of the Christian faith. The Congregational Federation is a Christian organisation whose primary aim is to help teachers, schoolchildren and young people learn more about the Christian faith.
The Free Churches Group is an ecumenical association of Free Church denominations and Church groups who are engaged in public ministry, enabling member group organisations to meet their calling in the public square by providing national chaplaincy support in the fields of Armed Forces Chaplaincy, healthcare and prisons, and providing support and resources to equip them in their engagement with education in schools, colleges and universities.
Heritage Bedford
Heritage Bedford is a collaboration between Bedford’s principal arts, leisure and culture providers. Our aim is to raise awareness of our rich heritage and to help visitors get the most out of the time they spend in the town.
The Hymn Society
The Hymn Society is a diverse group of people, all sharing an interest in hymns. Members include hymn writers, composers, hymn book editors; many members are responsible for the choice of hymns in worship, others are hymn enthusiasts or simply enjoy singing hymns. Together they encouraging study and research in hymnody, promote good standards of hymn-singing, encourage the discerning use of hymns and songs in worship and sponsor relevant publications.
Impact Bedford
A Christian organisation whose primary aim is to support schools, teachers, schoolchildren and young people learn more about the Christian faith.
The International John Bunyan Society
The idea of a John Bunyan Society began with conversations between Richard L. Greaves (Florida State University) and James F. Forrest (University of Alberta) who were lifelong friends and colleagues. They shared their conversations with others in the field, including Bob Owens, a founding editor of Bunyan Studies, at the 1988 conference Bunyan and Puritanism (Durham University) commemorating the tercentenary of Bunyan’s death in 1688.
Rotary Club of Middle England
Rotary is all about bringing people together to make a difference and make connections. We bring together people across generations who wish to create lasting change in the world, in their communities, and in themselves.
The Traherne Association seeks to bring together those who have come to Rev Thomas Traherne in their search for true purpose in their lives, together with those who are engaged internationally in the continuing discovery, research and publication of his works.
The United Reformed Church History Society
The United Reformed Church History Society is researching and telling the story of English-speaking Congregationalists, English Presbyterians, and Churches of Christ all over the UK. It is open to anyone interested in the history of the denominations in the United Kingdom which came together in 1972, 1981 and in 2000.