Eric Reece
Have you ever heard of the hymn, “Faith’s Review and Expectation?”
You may know it by its first two words, “Amazing Grace!”
The timeless hymnal celebrated its 250th anniversary earlier this year. Written by John Newton – and first sung in worship in 1773 – it was written to go along with Newton’s sermon of the day from 1 Chronicles 17:16-17.
Much has been written about John Newton, a member of the Royal Navy who ended up as a captain of ships transporting slaves. In 1748 – during a storm at sea on a return trip to England – he had a spiritual conversion. The ship was about to sink and Newton prayed for God’s mercy. The storm died down and they were able to continue to England.
He began to read the Bible and Thomas A. Kempis’ “Imitation of Christ.” Soon, he left sailing and the slave trade behind. He came under the influence of revival preachers George Whitefield and John and Charles Wesley, and was a close friend of poet William Cowper. Studying God’s word in his spare time, he became well-known as a lay minister. He sought to be a priest in the Church of England, but was first denied for his Methodist connections.
After seven years he was accepted in the Church of England, ordained a priest and served as the pastor of St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Olney. It was here – with his friend Willam Cowper in 1779 – he published the hymnal, “The Olney Hymns,” a successful hymnal that became a standard in Bible studies and worship. Six of its hymns are in many of today’s church hymnals. The hymns were published without tunes and people sang them with whatever melody suited.
In America – with camp meetings and revivals popular – “Amazing Grace” became a favorite hymn. It was included in the hymnals “Southern Harmony” and “Sacred Heart.” Shape-note singing and schools helped with the popularity. “New Britain” – a Scottish tune – became the time for singing “Amazing Grace.”
Originally written with six stanzas, it is often sung with the first four stanzas and another added. This new stanza, beginning with the phrase, “When we’ve been there ten thousand years,” was part of an African-American spiritual. This stanza was published in most hymnals and became the closing, joyous words sung at many funerals.
“Amazing Grace” appears in 1,398 hymnals and the Library of Congress has over 3,000 recordings on file.
Newton inspired Willam Wilberforce and others to work to abolish slavery in England, and saw it abolished two months before his death.
He wrote these words, which told me how personal the words of the hymn were to him. “There are two things I’ll never forget: that I was a great sinner, and that Jesus Christ is a greater Savior!”
Amen, John Newton, Amen!
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.