All details are subject to change due to covid for 2021 visits
Countdown to Bunyan 400
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BUNYAN MEETING
A thriving church, world-famous museum and dynamic community gallery
2nd September 2026
John Howard - Radical Prison Reformer: his enduring call to action
The Friends of John Bunyan Museum & Library invite you to a talk and discussion by David Spademan which will explore links between John Howard and contemporary issues. It will take place on September 2nd 2026 at 2 pm, followed by panel discussion. There will be an opportunity to visit the Summer Exhibition on John Howard at the same venue, from 11 am, and a guided visit to local Howard sites at 3.30-4 pm. Cost £10, payable on the door (£5 members of Friends) David has been a prison chaplain since April 2002. In April 2014 he was promoted to managing chaplain and leads a multi-faith chaplaincy team in a public sector prison. He is passionate about chaplaincy which he describes as the greatest ministry this side of heaven. He is an ordained minister with Assemblies of God GB where he has helped to develop and champion chaplaincy in AoG GB. He holds an MTh in Practical Theology. Since its formation in 2001, David has served on the Steering Group for Free Church Prison Chaplaincy within His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. He is a former Director of The Free Churches Group and was a founding trustee of The Welcome Directory, which encourages faith communities to welcome prison leavers.
Past Exhibitions
A Dream Shared: The Life and Legacy of John Bunyan
At the Panacea Museum
16th February to 25th March 2023
Due to a storm flooding the foyer of the John Bunyan Museum, we have had to delay our Spring opening.
Our wonderful neighbours at the Panacea Museum invited us into their temporary exhibition space to share the story of John Bunyan and Bunyan Meeting.
Visit the Panacea Museum website to discover more about their story and to plan your journey to see our shared dream..
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2022's Summer Exhibition marked the second year of our Bunyan Anniversaries Project 2021-22, the project was funded by Arts Council England National Lottery Heritage.
"A most fruitful tree: 350 years of Bunyan Meeting" celebrated three and a half centuries of the Church's History on the Mill Street site. 2022 also marked the anniversary of John Bunyan's release from prison and his becoming a Minister to the Church that we know as Bunyan Meeting today.
As with 2021, this exhibition featured artwork that was inspired by our "Bunyan's Hidden Highlights Series" and created by the Basement@Bunyan Wednesday Workshops.
Between 10th and 28th August 2021 we celebrated 75 years of the John Bunyan Museum and 5 years of Basement@Bunyan as the first of two exhibitions held for the Bunyan Anniversaries Project 2021-22.
"The Museum's Progress From 1946 to 2021 and Beyond" explored the history of the collection and the journey from the first dedicated showcase rooms to the current purpose-built John Bunyan Museum & Library.
In addition to highlights from the collection, artwork inspired by our "Hidden Highlights Series" and created through the Basement@Bunyan Wednesday Workshops enhanced the narrative of the exhibition and the festive spirit felt by all who visited.
“ Gaol! Banged-up in Bedford”
at John Bunyan Museum, Mill Street, was a free exhibition running from Tues 2nd July to Sat 27th October 2019.
The exhibition looked at crime and punishment from the 17th Century to the present day. Visitors found out what life was like in prison for famous author and prisoner of conscience John Bunyan.
They learnt about the terrible conditions John Howard saw when he was Bedford's High Sheriff and the reforms he made. Visitors discovered what life is like today for people in modern prisons like Bedford Prison.
