‘Amazing Grace’ at 250

Sunday 1 January 2023 marks the 250^th anniversary of the first congregational singing of the well-known and well-loved hymn, ‘Amazing Grace.’

The hymn was written by the Revd John Newton in the weeks leading up to Christmas 1772 to accompany the sermon that he was to preach at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church, Olney (Buckinghamshire) on New Year’s Day, Friday 1 January 1773. Newton’s sermon was based on the Old Testament text 1 Chronicles 17:16-17 from the Authorised Version of the Bible then in common use in English churches.

THE SERMON

In the Biblical text, shepherd-boy turned King-of-Israel David reflected on all that God had done for him – and expressed amazement at all that God was promising to do for him and his family in the coming years. Looking back with gratefulness and forward with hope is a very appropriate theme for New Year’s Day, which marks the end of one season and the start of another.

John Newton likewise thought this ‘a proper subject for contemplation at the start of a new year,’ since ‘they lead us to a consideration of past mercies and future hopes and intimate the frame of mind which becomes us when we contemplate what the Lord has done for us.’

Throughout his long life, John Newton never ceased to speak about his involvement in the transatlantic slave trade as a young man. Hence his own self-description as ‘a wretch like me.’ Over the years following his conversion to Christian faith, New came to abhor and oppose the slave trade.

The epitaph which Newton himself wrote for his tomb 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 laboured to destroy.’

THE HYMN

The dual theme of looking backwards and forwards is perfectly reflected in the six original verses of Newton’s hymn written to accompany the New Year’s Day sermon, with three verses looking back and three looking to the future. The hymn was originally titled, ‘Faith’s review and expectation,’ but is now universally known by its opening words ‘Amazing Grace.’

The original text was as follows:

THE BIG SING

Over the last 250 years, the hymn Amazing Grace has been translated into many languages, sung to many tunes and recorded by many artists. The American Library of Congress alone houses more than 3,000 published recorded performances of the hymn by different individuals or groups. Modern versions of the hymn include ‘Amazing Grace (My chains are gone)’ by Giglio Louie.

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the first singing of the hymn Amazing Grace, churches and choirs all over the world are being invited to sing the hymn on the morning of Sunday 1 January 2023. Read more about The Big Sing HERE.

MORE INFORMATION

Read more about John Newton, including the writing of the hymn Amazing Grace, via THIS LINK.

Watch a 45-minute YouTube video of the life of John Newton HERE.

Find out about the 250th anniversary celebrations taking place at the Cowper and Newton Museum in Olney HERE.