The Song Amazing Grace

“Amazing Grace” is both the story and song of a self-proclaimed wretch who says he once was lost but then found by amazing grace! It is not often that a single song rises to prominence among the plethora of choices for an era; it is rarer still that that song crosses the generations to still be the favorite of churches regardless of denominations. However, this is the narrative of that classic among classic hymns, “Amazing Grace.”

Little did John Newton realize the song of his testimony would be sung and witnessed in the lives of millions for nearly 300 years! Newton was born in London July 24, 1725. His father was commander of a Mediterranean merchant ship. However, Newton’s early adventures on his own were not very inspiring. In 1744 he joined the service as midshipman for H.M.S. Harwich. He deserted after finding intolerable conditions in this man-of-war vessel. When he was recaptured, he was publicly flogged and faced demotion to common seaman.

Later he joined himself to a slave ship taking him to the coast of Sierra Leone. He was abused brutally but after being rescued, later became captain of his own slave ship.

Newton had given up all religious convictions with his mother’s death when he was a child. However, on one of his homeward voyages, a violent storm ensued and he found himself desperately steering the ship for his life. He recorded in his journal that it was here that God intervened with a “great deliverance” and mercy upon all of them. May 10, 1748, was the day he celebrated as his conversion. Saving Grace was awakened in him.

"Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound) That sav’d a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see."

He recorded in his journal that when all seemed lost and the ship would certainly sink, he exclaimed, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” Later in his cabin he reflected on what he had said and began to believe that God had addressed him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him.

"Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home."

He sustained his slave trade for a while after his conversion but saw to it that the slaves under his care were treated charitably. Newton became self educated and began preparing for ministry. He was subsequently ordained by the Bishop of Lincoln and accepted a ministry position at Olney, Buckinghamshire. Newton’s church grew rapidly and had to be enlarged. In 1767 the poet William Cowper relocated at Olney, and he and Newton became friends.

They jointly held not only a regular weekly church service but also began a series of weekly prayer meetings, for which their goal was to write a new hymn for each week (see Olney Hymns). They collaborated on several editions of Olney Hymns, which achieved lasting popularity.

Links on John Newton:

• John Newton - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

• Amazing Grace - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia –

• Amazing Grace: The Story of John Newton –

• The John Newton Project

• Cyberhymnal: John Newton

• Bio of John Newton

• Amazing Grace: The Story of John Newton

• John Newton: The Tough Roots of His Habitual Tenderness ...

• Index to the Letters of John Newton Taken from "Cardiphonia," the Letters of John Newton. (Author of "Amazing Grace," etc.) Most of these letters are not included in the Banner edition. ...

“Amazing Grace” was composed between 1760 and 1770 although it was not listed under this name in the Olney hymns. It appears under the title: “Faith’s Review and Expectation” and has the Scripture reference of 1 Chronicles 17:16-17.

1Ch 17:16-17 Then King David went into the holy tent. He sat down in front of the Lord. He said, "Lord God, who am I? My family isn't important. So why have you brought me this far? I would have thought that you had already done more than enough for me. But now, God, you have spoken about what is going to happen to my royal house in days to come. Lord God, you have treated me as if I were the most honored man of all.

Several additional stanzas have been added over the years. The original had six stanzas. The origin of the melody is unknown. Most hymnals attribute it to an early American folk melody. “These early versions of the hymn, though, did not use the melody familiar to everyone today. That melody was common in early America under the name "New Britain" or sometimes titles like "Harmony Grove" and, oddly, "Amazing Grace." The authorship of the melody is lost to history, but we do know that the adapting of Newton's text to the "New Britain" melody occurred in 1855; a colorful song leader and evangelist named William Walker ("Singing Billy") put it in his widely used songbook Southern Harmony. From there it quickly became a part of hundreds of church repertoires.” (see American Roots Music).

Further Links on the song “Amazing Grace”

• Amazing Grace: The Movie Website
• Faith's Review and Expectation
• Amazing Grace - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Elvis Presley - Amazing Grace
• Amazing Grace (2006)
• Amazing Grace (Performing Arts Encyclopedia, The Library of Congress) Amazing Grace (Performing Arts Encyclopedia, Library of Congress). Since its creation in 1779 in England, Amazing Grace has grown in popularity to become ...
• Amazing Grace: The Story of John Newton
• Amazing Grace
• Amazing Grace in Cherokee

Some “Amazing Grace!” (Stanzas Added) (Click link for more variations and additional info)

(Note: These stanzas were not a part of the original “Amazing Grace.” They were added later by folk processes.

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From A Collection of Sacred Ballads , 1790

When we've been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we'd first begun.

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Sources unknown:

Amazing grace has set me free

To touch, to taste, to feel

The wonders of accepting love

Have made me whole and real.

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Praise God Variation:

Praise God, praise God, praise God, praise God,

Praise God, praise God, praise God,

Praise God, praise God, praise God, praise God,

Praise God, praise God, praise God.

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a variant of a hymn in the 1844 Sacred Harp

How long, dear Saviour, oh how long

Have I on earth to stay?

Roll on, roll on, ye wheels of time

And bring that joyful day.

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From a hymn by Thomas Shepherd , 1693

Must Jesus bear the cross alone

And all the world go free?

No, there's a cross for everyone

And there's a cross for me.

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According to Jean Ritchie, in the Old Regular Baptist (ORB) tradition the first two stanzas are:

The day is past and gone,

The evening shades appear;

O may we all remember well

The hour of death is near.

We lay our garments by,

Upon our beds to rest-

So time will soon disrobe us all

Of what we now possess.

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And the Scottish Psalter metrical version of the 23rd Psalm, 1650

The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want

He makes me down to lie

In pastures green He leadeth me

The quiet waters by.