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Amazing Grace
sung by The Inishowen Gateway Singers,
from the bridge over the River Crana, Buncrana, Lough Swilly on 8 April 2013,
the anniversary of John Newton's arrival here in the Greyhound on 8 April 1748.
Amazing Grace sung at Lough Swilly from The John Newton Project on Vimeo.
"I saw the wind come about to the very point we wished it, so as best to suit that broken part of the ship which must be kept out of the water, and to blow so gentle as our few remaining sails could bear; and thus it continued, without any observable alteration or increase, though at an unsettled time of the year, till we once more were called up to see the land, and were convinced that it was land indeed. We saw the island Tory, and the next day anchored in Lough Swilly, in Ireland. This was the 8th of April, just four weeks after the damage we sustained from the sea. When we came into this port, our very last victuals were boiling in the pot; and before we had been there two hours, the wind, which seemed to have been providentially restrained till we were in a place of safety, began to blow with great violence; so that, if we had continued at sea that night in our shattered enfeebled condition, we must, in all human appearance, have gone to the bottom. About this time I began to know that there is a God that hears and answers prayer. How many times has he appeared for me since this great deliverance!"
from John Newton's Authentic Narrative
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Sunday evening 26 November 1775
Hymn No. 225
link to full manuscript hymn
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Olney 1773
Friday the 1st January
"This is the Ninth New Year’s day I have seen in this place. I have reason to say, The Lord crowneth every year with his goodness.
"My exercise of grace is faint... But my eye and my heart is to Jesus. His I am, Him I desire to serve, to Him I this day would devote and surrender myself anew. O Lord, accept, support, protect, teach, comfort and bless me. Be thou my Arm, my Eye, my Joy and my Salvation.
"I preached this forenoon from 1 Chronicles 17:16,17...." more... |
2013
is the 240th anniversary
of
Amazing Grace
the brief video
(2 mins 18 secs)
on the right
shows how Newton came to write
this
much-loved hymn
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Amazing Grace 240th anniversary from The John Newton Project on Vimeo.
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John Newton's sermon for Amazing Grace:
"The Lord bestows many blessings upon his people, but unless he likewise gives them a thankful heart, they lose much of the comfort they might have in them.
And this is not only a blessing in itself but an earnest of more. When David was peacefully settled in the kingdom, he purposed to express his gratitude by building a place for the Ark. This honour the Lord had appointed for his son Solomon, but he graciously accepted David's intention, for he not only notices the poor services of his people, but even their desires to serve him, when they spring from a principle of simple love, though opportunity should be wanting. He sent him a message by Nathan assuring him that his son should build the house and that he himself would build David's house and establish his kingdom. This filled his heart with praise. My text is part of his acknowledgement.
Omitting David's personal concerns, I would accommodate them to our own use as a proper subject for our meditations on the entrance of a new year. 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."
more... |
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John Newton's words for Amazing Grace:
Faith's review and expectation
1 Chronicles 17:16,17
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace those fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home. |
The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine. |
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World-record-breaking Stratford scholar
"I was never at school but about two years; from my eighth to my tenth year. It was a boarding-school at Stratford, in Essex."
With only two years formal education to his credit, John Newton holds the world record for the song most recorded by different artists.
For details of this world record, see the Library of Congress website's description of their collection of OVER 3,000 DIFFERENT RECORDINGS of Amazing Grace.
For more about the extraordinary life of John Newton, see the exhibition in his former church St Mary Woolnoth, from 30th July to 10th August.
For more about record-breaking grace see Romans 3:23,24
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
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for copies of this tract contact
printbridge.co.uk
tel:
01208 75215
email:
contact@printbridge.co.uk |
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Plaque at Purfleet, Essex, close to the site where John Newton lived in his step-mother's home, and where he set sail at the age of 11 from Long Reach as his father's cabin boy
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From John Newton’s previously unpublished diary:
Manesty's Lane, Liverpool
[courtesy Liverpool Record Office, Liverpool Libraries]
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Friday 15 August 1755
"In ye morning rode to Liverpoole; by the way had many sweet comfortable moments – an impressed sense of God’s many mercies warmed my heart, and led me into several intervals of praise, and from thence to renew all my former self-dedication to his name and service; these exercises made the journey very pleasant. On my arrival found all well; the usual reception from Mr & Mrs M[Manesty] and much civility and kindness from others – especially Mr C[probably John Colquitt] when I waited on him, passed all my forms at ye Custom House and received my deputation. Spent ye Aft[afternoon] with my friend Mr W[Welsh]."
John Newton Diary, Princeton University, CO199
Transcripts from Newton’s previously unpublished diaries beginning here December 2011 …
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Michael Bochmann
performing his own arrangement of Amazing Grace on violin
at the Old Royal Naval College Chapel, Greenwich
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Newton's original words for Amazing Grace
written for New Year's Day 1773
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace those fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home. |
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The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
use Newton's version! |
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The largest recorded sound collection of a single musical work in the Library of Congress was compiled by Allan Chasanoff and Raymon Elozua.
It contains over 3,000 published recorded performances of John Newton's hymn Amaizng Grace by different individual musicians or musical ensembles,
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from DayOne Publications |
View pages from
365 days with Newton
featuring John Newton's personal
Amazing Grace sermon notes
for 1 January 1773
1 January
2 January
3 January
4 January |
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Newton's summer hols
or
'A Journey'
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Lambeth Palace Library MS2942 f01
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1791
1st Journey
Tuesday 21 June
Left all well at home and set off with dear Betsy and Crabb at 7 in the morning; arrived at Miss Palmer’s at Meldreth before 2 in the afternoon in safety, without meeting the smallest alarm or inconvenience upon the road. How often, my Lord, have I had cause to praise thee, for journeying mercies.
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In the evening spent a pleasant hour with several of her friends, at Mr Fitch’s. But had no opportunity for a retired walk.
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Meldreth Parish Church, Cambridgeshire
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Wednesday 22 June
Walking, reading in the Psalms and musing. Betsy poorly but better in the evening. Drank tea at Mrs Cooper’s. Mr Simeon and Musgrave came, walked home with us, and returned to Cambridge. Morning John 4. Evening 2 Corinthians 5:1-6. Wrote to Mrs Coffin.
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Linkinhorne Parish Church
by kind permission Peggy Milburn
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epitaph of the Rev James Coffin of Linkinhorne
Newton's correspondent
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[‘Just setting out on a little journey’ Newton told his new correspondent Jean Coffin, wife of the Rev James Coffin of Linkinhorne in Cornwall.
Later he revealed that his ‘little journey’ had encompassed ‘a route of about 750 miles’!]
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footpath from Meldreth to Melbourn |
Thursday 23 June
Walking etc. Forenoon at Royston; brought home Miss Wells. Wrote to Lady Maxwell. Evening went to Mrs Cooper’s. Afterwards a retired walk. A pleasant conversation with Mr Campkin. Spoke from John 4 and 2 Corinthians 12:2-9.
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Friday 24 June
Wrote to Mrs Gardiner. Went to Cambridge. Dined at Mr Musgrave and tea. Expounded Psalm 23. Supped and slept in King’s College. But felt myself solitary.
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King's College, Cambridge
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Saturday 25 June
Solicited a new lodging at Mr Musgrave’s. Breakfasted with Mr Ramsay. Dined at Mr Gardiner’s. Tea at Miss Jennings. Supped with Mr H Jowit [the Rev Henry Jowett]. Much walking today both in company and alone, was heartily wearied at night.
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the Rev Henry Jowett was then a tutor at Magdallen College |
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Sunday 26 June
Rose, refreshed by thy mercy my Lord. Had a tolerable day, and some liberty in preaching for Mr Simeon from Ecclesiastes 2:26, Hebrews 11:1. Dined with Mr Ind. Supped with Dr Jowit [Joseph Jowett, Regious Professor of Civil Law, Trinity Hall].
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Charles Simeon endured great opposition from his churchwardens and pew-owners, who obstructed him by locking the church doors and pews.
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Jowett organised musical concerts in Trinity Hall |
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Monday 27 June
A short morning walk. Breakfasted with Mr Randal. Visited Mrs Nuns and a young woman near death, both eminent proofs of the power of faith, and the truth of the promises. Dined with Mr Simeon and several friends, particularly Mr Venn. Supped with Mr Jowit. Walking at intervals. Still favoured with health, and sound sleep. Praise the Lord, O my soul!
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Charles Simeon & John Venn |
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Tuesday 28 June
A morning’s walk. After breakfast writing letters to Bedford &c; having been induced to alter my route. I know my Lord my way is not in myself. Do thou condescend to direct my steps. Returned safely to dinner at Meldreth. Miss Betts with us. An evening hour in the meadow.
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Meldreth meadows |
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[to be continued] |
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"The Messiah by Mr Handel & Mr Newton" first held at Gloucester Cathedral 13 March 2010 7pm
The Messiah by Mr Handel & Mr Newton
used at Gloucester Cathedral 13 March 2010
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Listen to Newton's Messiah sermon extracts
read by Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith
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The Messiah by Mr Handel & Mr Newton
Adrian Partington, Musical Director Gloucester Cathedral
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The Messiah by Mr Handel & Mr Newton
Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith, Hymn Writer
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The Messiah by Mr Handel & Mr Newton
The Rev Dr Alec Motyer, former Principal Trinity College, Bristol
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John Newton: Ministry on my mind
Frank Retief, Presiding Bishop of the Church of England in South Africa
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coming soon: Newton's printed sermons on Messiah
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Newton on the web
 What happens when,
in the Lord’s providence,
his people long for others to hear the
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ?
links...
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Watch:
Jonathan Aitken speaking on Ministry on my mind
(for high quality select full screen then bottom right menu) |
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article on the unveiling of the Amazing Grace plaque: Liverpool Daily Post
article on the unveiling of the Amazing Grace plaque: BBC
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Watch the discussion:
JNP Chairman, John Langlois OBE, interviews trustee Tony Baker about Ministry on my mind
(under the watchful eye of William Pitt the younger)
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4 August 1758:
“If ever Thou permittest me to declare that faithful saying, Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, surely the words, of whom I am chief, would be peculiarly expressive and convincing in my mouth. I could stand forth and propose myself instead of a thousand arguments in proof of the doctrine, and might well hope to be of singular use as a pattern of Thy longsuffering to all that should repent and believe.” |
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Jonathan
Aitken
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"...a remarkable document... Any candidate for an ordained ministry in the twenty-first century could well profit from studying the process John Newton put himself through two hundred and fifty years ago."
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4 August 1758
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JNP publications
NOW available online
through PayPal |
Michael
Cassidy
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"John Newton's reflections on the nature and execution of Christian ministry remain as relevant today... The opportunity to sit at his feet once again is not one which should be missed."
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by John Newton
published by the JNP |
Alec
Motyer
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"... a man of deep spirituality, wide scriptural knowledge, and an unusual depth of longing to serve God ponders the nature of a true calling... These thoughts should be required reading for all Christians... specially for those who are given the unspeakable privilege of 'full-time service'."
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Bicentenary postcard:
"The Amazing Grace that snatched me from ruin"
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James I
Packer
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"It is hard to believe that any Christians, wondering if God was calling them to ordained service, ever meditated on relevant Scriptures so perceptively, and recorded their discernments so luminously ...a very precious part of the legacy of this great man of God."
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Lambeth Palace Library
MS 2937 |
7 minute
PowerPoint
narrated by
James Jones
Bishop of Liverpool
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7 min PowerPoint
narration by
James Jones
Bishop of Liverpool
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daily readings
previously unpublished sermons
by
John Newton
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Newton's original words for Amazing Grace
written for New Year's Day 1773
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace those fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home. |
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&
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The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine. |
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Marylynn Rouse, 25/05/2013 |
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