John Bunyan and Harlington

Background
John Bunyan, born to Thomas and Margaret (née Bentley) at Harrowden, was baptised in Elstow Church on 30th November 1628.  His family had lived in the area for nearly 400 years.  As a brazier Thomas Bunyan travelled the area, repairing the heavy iron and brass cooling utensils so necessary in the seventeenth century for cooking over an open fire.  No doubt the young John accompanied his father on his travels. Perhaps it was these visits to the poor and to the wealthy from which he was able to draw on for inspiration in his writings.  John probably learned to read at a local Dame School.  His grandfather, a chapman (peddlar), who carried small merchandise such as chap books (small pocket sized books) around the neighbouring villages, died in 1641 leaving his grandson sixpence. 

After the death of his wife and daughter in 1644 Thomas remarried almost at once.  In October of that year the sixteen year old John was called up for service in the Parliamentary Garrison at Newport Pagnell.  We can presume that John was already familiar with the Bible and no doubt would have learned much of the religious views of his fellow soldiers, many of whom were Non-conformists.  In July 1647 John was demobolized and went to live in Elstow where he re-established himself as a brazier and married, possibly in 1649.  A blind daughter, Mary was baptised in 1650.  Sometime after her birth John became aware of 'a voice from heaven'.  It may well have been the birth of his daughter which made John think about his life and how he should not be playing sport on Sunday but be involved in more Godly occupation.  A second daughter Elizabeth was born on April 14th 1654.  The following year the family moved to St Cuthbert's Street, Bedford.

 Throughout Bedfordshire men and women looked for a form of worship that John espoused, one which was more biblically-based than that  in the Parish Church.  During the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell in 1656, Bunyan's Some Gospel Truths Opened was published.  By 1657 John was well established as a preacher.  In 1659 he was widowed.  Left with four children later in the year he married his second wife Elizabeth, a friend of his first wife.

The Harlington Connection
Influenced by John Giffard, pastor of Bedfordshire's first Independent congregation, Bunyan joined and proved himself a gifted speaker.  For some time he had been field preaching.  Forbidden to speak in churches without being trained, which he wasn't, he called people to join him in the open air away from authority, to hear him nevertheless.  An oak tree in Harlington Parish has a well-established tradition that from here John preached.  In the early 1950s the tree was easily climbed into as foot holds had been worn on the outside of the trunk.  The tree, of vast girth, was hollowed out rather like a pulpit.  The ground slopes upwards from the tree, making it easy, still to this day, to speak from it and be clearly seen and heard.  A tree in Stewartby also is said to be one from which Bunyan preached.

 By 1660 the monarchy had been restored. Charles II was king and the political climate began to change against Non Conformists. According to Bunyan's own writings, on 12th November 1660 some of his friends had asked him to teach at Lower Samsell, near Harlington.

 The Justice, Francis Wingate, who lived at Harlington House, at the cross roads in the village, heard of the meeting.  William Foster, his brother-in-law was with him at this time.  He was a lawyer, who believed that the developing Independent congregations must be restrained.  Like many others he felt religious uniformity was essential to national unity. In London, unlicensed preachers had been gathering folk ostensibly for bible-study, only to speak politically, arguing for yet another revolution once they gathered.

 One of the first understandings from Charles II had been that whilst he promised things would be more lenient, mostly, as people in the main wanted, there would be a return to pre-experiment laws.  Thus Francis Wingate felt entirely justified in arresting the young preacher, for an Act passed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558 - 1603) forbade unauthorised religious gatherings.  The men thought Bunyan well-meaning but misguided and hoped to use the old Act as a threat. 

 Amongst John's friends there was talk of a warrant to arrest him.  The friend, whose house John was to preach in, was afraid and thought it best if Bunyan departed.  John, having paced up and down outside for a time, felt it important to show strength to his newly converted brethren and chose to remain.

 Bunyan began his meeting in 'prayer for the blessing of God' intending to preach to those present.   Wingate had asked the Parish Constable to keep watch on the house.  The constable entered with his warrant. In Bunyan's own words he records how he found them with 'our Bibles in our hands'.  Bunyan was 'taken and forced to depart the room'.  The constable knew that Francis Wingate was otherwise engaged for the evening, so Bunyan was allowed to stay with a trustworthy local person overnight  and then the next morning was taken to Harlington House. 

 Staying for the weekend at Harlington House was the rector of Barton, father-in-law of Francis Wingate, William Lindall, later vicar of Harlington.  Lindall was sharp with Bunyan.  There too was Wingate's brother-in-law, the lawyer, William (later,  Dr.)  Foster.  Foster and Bunyan engaged in theological debate.  To Foster's statement that the people John preached to were only 'poor simple ignorant people' Bunyan retorted ' the foolish and ignorant had the most need of teaching'.  John stood firm despite the magistrate saying, 'If you will promise to call the people no more together, you shall have your liberty'.  We have Bunyan's account of all this, and it makes interesting reading.  John's case came before the local justices at the next sessions held at the Old Swan Inn in Bedford.  Bunyan was sentenced to remain in prison until he reformed. 

And so, off and on, John spent twelve years in the old county gaol in Bedford.  It is said that little blind Mary came regularly with soup.  It was during this time that he began to write the world famous The Pilgrim's Progress.  The book was not completed until 1677 when Bunyan was imprisoned for a second time.

 In 1928 three hundred years after Bunyan's birth, Mr and Mrs Tabor opened Harlington House and Gardens.  The 6d entrance fee raised £5 for the Bunyan window to the west of the small priest's door in the Chancel.  The stained glass, 'Do you see yonder shining light?' illustrates a scene from The Pilgrim's Progress was designed by Warren Wilson, a pupil of Robert Anning Bell.  A service was also held at Bunyan's Oak.  The following year the Rt Reverend Dr. Michael Furse, dedicated the window on 28th July, 1929.

 The oak tree died sometime in the 1950s.  During a storm sometime before August 1987 a large branch fell.  An oak altar table and tall feature table were crafted by Tim Jarvis to a basic design by the Reverend Steve Williams.  The altar was consecrated by the Rt. Revd. David Farmbrough, Bishop of Bedford, on Sunday 13th November, 1988. 

 There has always been a strong village tradition that the  Sharpenhoe Clappers which can be clearly seen from Barton Road are John Bunyan's 'Delectable Mountains'.  Vivienne Evans' fine book John Bunyan:  His Life and Times has an appendix explaining the key to other topographical features of this nature.  A more sensitive treatment of Bunyan's life, In the Steps of John Bunyan by Vera Brittain, mother of the Rt. Hon. Shirley Willliams, though difficult to get hold of, is to be recommended for further reading. On Saturday 1st July 1978 Rt. Hon. Shirley Williams M.P. Secretary of State for Education and Science visited the village as part of the celebrations marking the 300th Anniversary publication of  The Pilgrim's Progress and the 350th anniversary of  Bunyan's birth,  by planting an Hungarian oak tree in the northeast corner of the churchyard, helped by Jim Preston and accompanied by the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, before going on to open the fête officially.  "It was here in the village that he (Bunyan) had the impudence to speak to a gathering of more than five people", she said.  Sadly the oak tree has died, but an indentation in the churchyard marks where it stood.