Bunhill Fields - London

Bunhill Fields is a former Dissenters' burial ground of four hectares, bounded by City Road to the east and Bunhill Row to the west. Today the area is an oasis of calm and greenery, which has been managed as a public open space by the City of London since 1867.

The cemetery was established for many that were martyred for their faith...the church of England would not allow them to be buried in their cemetery. It is the last resting place for an estimated 120,000 bodies, including three of Britain's most eminent Nonconformists - William Blake, John Bunyan and Daniel Defoe. Also buried in the cemetery is Dr. Isaac Watts - the father of hymnology! The main burial ground was also severely damaged by German bombing during World War II.

JOHN BUNYAN

John Bunyan is the author of Pilgrim's Progress (a book translated into more languages than any other apart from the Bible)

DANIEL DEFOE

You may know him as the author of Robinson Crusoe...he was also a religious dissenter. Which means that he fought for freedom of religion and did not want to conform to the Catholic church because he felt their practices were not scriptural. I agree...

The site has a long history as a burial ground, but is most significant for its Nonconformist connections, dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, and the burial of prominent people including William Blake, Daniel Defoe, John Bunyan and Susannah Wesley (mother to Charles and John Wesley).

WILLIAM BLAKE

English poet, painter and print maker...dissenter...