Bunhill Fields, London
Bunhill Fields contains the graves of many eminent Nonconformists.
Tomb of John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim's Progress.
Tombstone of Susanna Wesley, mother of John Wesley.
Tombstone of poet William Blake.
Detail of monument to Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe.
Tomb of William Cromwell, son of Oliver Cromwell.
View down main path of Bunhill Fields.
Bunhill Fields Meeting House in Quaker Gardens.
"The Papists they cry, Conform.
And the Turk, he cries, Conform.
And did not the heathen Emperors cry, Conform?
And the Presbyterian, he cried, Conform.
And the Independents...
So everyone that gets the uppermost, and gets the staff of authority, commands...
But no law of Jesus requires it, who said, 'Freely you have received, freely give.'"
--George Fox, nonconformist and founder of the Quakers
Bunhill Fields is a peaceful oasis in the center of the London used by locals and tourists alike to relax and take a break from the bustling city.
It is also a site of great historical and religious significance: Bunhill Fields is unconsecrated ground that has been used for centuries as a burial place for Nonconformists, Dissenters, and other people who died outside of the Church of England.
History
Bunhill originates with the term "Bone Hill" and the area was associated with burials from Saxon times. In 1685, it was set apart as a common cemetery for the interment of bodies for which there wasn't room in their church cemeteries during the Plague.
However, Bunhill didn't end up being used for that purpose, so a Mr. Tindal leased it and converted it into a burial place for the use of dissenters. Later, it was used for any persons who practiced a religion outside of the Church of England.
The cemetery was used until 1855 for approximately 120,000 burials. It was taken over by the City of London in 1867 for use as a green space. Today, about half of Bunhill Fields is a park and the rest remains a fence-enclosed cemetery.
Bunhill Fields graveyard was damaged by German bombing during World War II but reconstructed in 1960.
What to See
Notable graves in Bunhill Fields include:
- William Blake (1757-1827), poet, and his wife Catherine (1762-1831)
- John Owen (1616-83), Congregational minister
- Susanna Wesley (1669-1742), mother of John and Charles Wesley
- Daniel Defoe (1661-1731), author of Robinson Crusoe
- John Bunyan (1628-1688), author of The Pilgrim's Progress - his elaborate tomb includes an effigy of Bunyan and bas-reliefs of scenes from his great allegory
- Isaac Watts (1674-1748), hymnwriter
- George Fox (1624-1691), founder of the Society of Friends (Quakers) - in the Quaker Gardens, next to the Bunhill Fields Meeting House
For the tomb, chapel and house of John Wesley, an especially famous nonconformist and founder of Methodism, cross the street to Wesley's Chapel. Legend has it that John aligned his chapel so that it would look straight to his beloved mother's grave.
Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of . Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our London Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Related Travel Resources
- Map of the London Underground - Transport for London
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Sources
- Personal visit (June 24, 2007)
- Bunhill Fields - City of London (official site; includes map of graves)
- Bunhill Fields Burial Ground - Nonconformist Church History
More Information
- Bunhill Fields - IgoUgo user reviews
- Bunhill Fields - Londontown
- Bunhill Fields - Quaker Tour of England
