The most recognized Christian Hymn worldwide, Amazing Grace was first sung 250 years ago today, on the first of January. A congregation in the market town of Olney in England first sang the hymn “Amazing Grace.”

An article I'm reading has a concise summary of it's author
"The words were written by a former slave-ship captain named John Newton, two decades after he left the slave trade, when he was an Anglican minister in the English Midlands. He would later move to London and make a key contribution to the abolition of the slave trade. As Wintley Phipps said, “I believe God wanted that song written just the way it was written just so that we would be reminded that as Christians whether black or white . . . we are connected by God’s amazing grace.”

Blessings,
Mark

Truly Amazing

It is our closing song every Sunday worship service.

What that written by John Nunnan.

One of the best songs ever. A woman with a beautiful voice sang it at my late wife’s funeral.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear...

He was a Calvinist.

I am quite familiar with the story of John Newton, and the inception of the song.

My most favorite hymn. It will be played at my funeral,,,,, or else. I will come back and haunt whom ever neglected it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG0vH4WYChQ



Thank you, Mark.


Charlie

Here's a pretty good movie on Newton's life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdlZ8ykfwuw

John Newton was a troubled young man with a violent temper and a penchant for vulgarity that literally made his fellow sailors blush. Whipped for desertion and sold into slavery, it seemed his life would end early in a West African grave...until he was rescued by a ship captain sent by his father.

Following a powerful conversion experience during a storm at sea, Newton would eventually become a pastor in the Church of England and the writer of several of the church's most beloved hymns, including "Amazing Grace."

But before that, Newton, the former slave, was appointed captain of a slave ship himself. In an age when human bondage was considered the norm, it would take time for Newton's conscience to be thoroughly transformed. But Newton came to hate the slave trade, becoming a spiritual leader in the fight to end slavery.

Newton's Grace is the true story of a real "Prodigal Son," the story of miraculous forgiveness and change that lies behind the powerful words of one of the world's most beloved hymns.

"Through many dangers, toils and SNARES"

^^^My favorite line

Thanks for bringing that up, I always found it interesting that he was a slave himself, in Sierra Leone, BEFORE becoming the captain of a slave ship.

Amen. Thus there really can be Amazing Grace gifted to us.

The movie Amazing Grace was a good watch. Yes it's not what we have done but what he has done for us because he loves us if that doesn't bring a tear. Wow thank you lord Jesus.

I don't know if slavery and slavers were considered the norm by the early 1800s (ok, the song was written in 1772). From what I understand even in Newton's time, if you ended up as a slaver captain, you were at the bottom of the merchant fleet and no one else would hire you. That's where you would stay. In 1807, Great Britain outlawed the importation of slaves into the country, followed by the United States two years later. Great Britain outlawed slavery in 1833, the United States in 1865.

Currently, there are an estimated 40,000,000 or so slaves or slave equivalent in the world, although slave ships such as as what Newton captained where slaves are the main cargo no longer sail the seas. Now if there are slaves shipped, its in "mixed" cargo with other commerce and not out in the light...

My father was active in the local civil rights movement and helped build the first black Christian church in Eugene, Oregon. When he passed that congregation (at our request) sent over a singer to perform Amazing Grace at his service. Afterwards our pastor said that the song had never been sung like that before in that building and likely never would again. He was highly impressed!

If you haven't heard it performed by an African-American woman with a booming melodic voice....well, you've missed out big time.

Agreed!!!!