John Heaven

Mayor of Bedford 1768

John Heaven, a turner or joiner from Holborn in the City of London, became connected with Bedford as a young man when he joined the Moravians, though he later left the Moravian Church. He became a freeman of the Borough in 1759, and a common council man and burgess in 1767.Bedfordshire Archives holds the sacrament certificate granted when he swore he was a communicant member of the Church of England before taking up his office [BorBF4/21/14]

He later returned to London and either retained or regained his affection for the Moravians. In a letter written to the Moravian community at Bedford in 1793 he tells them he is sending a "dial" he had promised for the chapel. "I have every reason to believe it to be in point of workmanship, as good as can be made, and in performance will prove to be so, long, yea very long, after you and myself, have quitted our earthly Tabernacles". He wished the item to be put over the table where the Labourer sits, and had had it engraved to record his attachment to the Brethren. The letter was written in a very affectionate tone [MO565].