John Newton (1725–1807) wrote “Amazing Grace,” perhaps the most famous hymn ever. This year marks the 250th anniversary of his ordination as an Anglican minister.
Newton was born in London on July 24, 1725. His mother died when he was a child. His father commanded a merchant ship. At age 11, Newton went to sea with him and made six voyages before his father retired.
The British navy impressed Newton into service on a man-of-war ship. He deserted but was recaptured and exchanged into service on a slave ship bound for Sierra Leone.
Calling out to God
He became captain of his own slave ship. During a violent storm he prayed for God to rescue him. Although he did not surrender himself to Christ, he remembered March 10, 1748, for the rest of his life. “On that day,” he said in his autobiography, “the Lord … delivered me out of deep waters.” Despite the experience he continued in the slave trade until 1754.
Several years later he “gained some clear views of the infinite righteousness and grace of Christ Jesus my Lord.” He wrote, “I surrender myself wholly to You, wholly, wholly. Please accept me.” He taught himself Latin, Greek and Hebrew, met John Wesley, founder of Methodism, and became a disciple of evangelist George Whitefield.
He applied to the Archbishop of York for ordination in the late 1750s but was not accepted until several years later. Finally he was ordained as a deacon April 29, 1764, and ordained as a priest June 17. That day he accepted a church at Olney, Buckinghamshire.
Newton became respected by both Anglicans and Nonconformists. His preaching was so popular that the Olney church had to be enlarged to accommodate the crowds.
In 1767 poet William Cowper moved to Olney. He and Newton became close friends and started a series of weekly prayer meetings. They wrote a new hymn for almost every service.
Among Newton’s 280 hymns was “Faith’s Review and Expectation,” known today as “Amazing Grace.” In its original form it had six stanzas. Other writers have added verses.
Newton became prominent in the anti-slavery movement. In 1779 he left Olney for St. Mary Woolnoth in London. He drew large congregations and influenced many people, among them William Wilberforce. A member of Parliament, Wilberforce sought his advice about leaving politics. Newton encouraged him to “serve God where he was.” Wilberforce spent the rest of his life working toward the abolition of slavery.
In the late 1780s Newton wrote a tract, “Thoughts upon the African Slave Trade,” describing the horrors of the slave trade and lamenting the role he had played. He joined Wilberforce in his campaign for abolition of the slave trade.
In February 1807 Parliament passed a law finally abolishing it.
Newton died in London 10 months later on Dec. 21, 1807. His tombstone reads, “John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, A servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy.”
Newton’s legacy lives on today in his former church of Olney. It provides philanthropy for the Sierra Leone town of Newton.
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