John Bunyan (1628–1688) English writer, Protestant preacher. Born in England. He spent most of his life in Bedford. At the age of 19 he married a young woman who persuaded him to attend church regularly. There he listened to the Gospel, and after a deep and long spiritual struggle he completely surrendered himself to the Lord, after which he was baptized and became a member of the Bedford Baptist Church. He soon began to preach in the church and the surrounding villages.

In 1660 he was arrested and imprisoned for holding secret, unsanctioned religious meetings. When he was offered freedom in exchange for a promise never to preach again, he refused and remained in prison. He was released in 1672 and immediately returned to his previous activities. For the next 16 years of his life, he was active as a pastor, writer, counselor, and senior pastor of numerous churches and youth ministries.

John Bunyan (1628–1688) English writer, Protestant preacher. Born in England. He spent most of his life in Bedford. At the age of 19 he married a young woman who persuaded him to attend church regularly. There he listened to the Gospel, and after a deep and long spiritual struggle he completely surrendered himself to the Lord, after which he was baptized and became a member of the Bedford Baptist Church. He soon began to preach in the church and the surrounding villages.

In 1660 he was arrested and imprisoned for holding secret, unsanctioned religious meetings. When he was offered freedom in exchange for a promise never to preach again, he refused and remained in prison. He was released in 1672 and immediately returned to his previous activities. For the next 16 years of his life, he was active as a pastor, writer, counselor, and senior pastor of numerous churches and youth ministries.