ELSTOW

Elstow Notes

John Bunyan

John BUNYAN came to Elstow (born in Harrowden, see that page as well) in 1647.  In 1649, the year of the King Charles's execution, he married Mary of whom little is known execpt that she was of good parentage.  She brought him no dowryexcept two books bequeathed to her by her father; The Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven and The Practice of Piety. These were read by husband and wife together and, under her influence he began to take to and even desire and observe religion and its observances whilst privately admitting that he continued in his wicked ways.  

Bunyan's conversion came about on Elstow vilage green as he listened to a sermon from the Vicar of Elstow, Christopher HALL, about Sabbath breaking.  It troubled his conscience as he was addicted to gaming on Sundays and he was struck bya voice from heaven that made him consider his way.

There is much detail available about Bunyan's development but a significant point in time was when Bunyan became deacon of the church in 1655 and moved to a house (no longer standing) in St Cuthbert's Street, Bedford.