Created with help from volunteers and the Friends of the John Bunyan Museum, the following films explore Bunyan’s Hidden Highlights in and around Bedford. We take a close look at items in the John Bunyan Museum’s collection and consider the ways Bunyan is remembered and celebrated around the country.
If you would like to propose a topic for one of Bunyan’s Hidden Highlights, or even submit a proposal for writing and recording one, please use the Contact page.
Blue Plaques in Bedfordshire
A short film about the blue plaques and memorials to John Bunyan. The blue plaque scheme was founded by the Royal Society of Arts in 1866, and in Bedford, a number of these plaques commemorate John Bunyan’s life in and around the town. This film explores some of these plaques to tell Bunyan’s story.
John Bunyan’s Anvil
The John Bunyan Museum in Bedford boasts a number of artifacts that are said to have belonged to John Bunyan or have connections with his life. Among the earliest of these is the tinker’s anvil or brazier spike a piece of roughly shaped iron that has survived over 370 years and has an interesting history.
Lighting the home in John Bunyan’s time
If you visit the John Bunyan museum, you will be able to see a number of objects that are used to show what life was like for ordinary people like John and Elizabeth Bunyan and their family in the 17th century. This film explores how people lit their homes, especially during the long winter months.
Bunyan’s Tomb
A short film exploring John Bunyan’s tomb using a precious fragment of John Bunyan’s original tombstone, held by the John Bunyan Museum. The fragment was gifted to Bunion Meeting by Highgate Congregational Church in 1952.
Great things from little acorns grow
In common with many other museums, we have a collection of artifacts which are not on permanent display. Today we look at the history behind some of them. The proverb, great oaks from little acorns grow, certainly holds true for one little acorn which grew into the mighty tree that became known as the Bunion Oak.
Dining in Bunyan’s Kitchen
In the 1600s, people had to rely on what could be grown and gathered from around and about. This film explores a few items which would have been common in most kitchens at that time, including kitchen utensils and crockery.
Bunyan, Cromwell’s Soldier
John Bunyan lived through some of England’s most turbulent years including the English Civil War led by Oliver Cromwell and the execution of King Charles I. His life and faith were shaped by these dramatic events including a brief time serving as a common soldier in Cromwell’s army.
Bunyan’s Pulpit
Today we tend to remember John Bunyan as a writer yet in his lifetime he was predominantly known as a preacher and pastor. This short film explores Bunyan’s preaching through his pulpit, which is today housed in the Bunyan Museum in Bedford.
Bunyan Meeting- a church planted in fertile soil
In 1672 an agreement was made between a certain Josias Roughead, shoemaker, and John Bunyan, brazier, etc., for the purchase of a barn with a piece of ground adjoining it, in the parishes of St. Paul and St. Cuthbert. This film tells the story of Bunyan Meeting.
The Bronze Doors
This short film explores the history of the impressive bronze doors at the entrance to the Bunyan Church. On the 5th of July of 1876, more than a thousand people had gathered in Mill Street to witness the 9th Duke of Bedford unveil the 10ft by 5ft bronze doors to the entrance of the Church.
Bunyan the Tinker
If you mention the name of John Bunyan to pretty much anyone, they will know that he was a preacher and the writer of The Pilgrim’s Progress, however, few will know that during his youth and early adult life he worked as a tinker. This video explores how John Bunyan the tinker influenced John Bunyan the preacher and writer.
Bound for the World, The Making of Bunyan’s Books
As well as the John Bunyan Museum, Bunyan Meeting is home to an amazing library containing copies of Bunyan’s books. This short film explores the earliest editions to translations into nearly every language, to the present day, where his writings continue to inspire people.
A Dissenter’s Christmas
An exploration of what Christmas would have meant to members of the Puritan Movement, living around, and inspired by the life and times of John Bunyan.