Two films entitled Amazing Grace are now drawing attention to John Newton, the author of the hymn, who was born in 1725. His mother was a frail, sweet natured, God fearing woman, who taught her only child Bible stories and many valuable verses of Scripture. John was only 7 when his mother died and 4 years later his father, who was a sea captain, took him on his first voyage. He was subjected to a rigid discipline but after being apprenticed to another ship he drifted from his mother’s teaching and rushed into an unrestrained immoral lifestyle.

Briefly in England, John visited Mr and Mrs Catlet who had nursed his mother. Here he met Mary, one of their daughters then aged 14. The moment he gazed upon her, the 17 year old’s heart was lost, he wrote, “Almost at first sight I felt an affection for her which never abated.”

As John’s years passed by on slave ships it was only his burning love for Mary that kept a spark of hope alive in his heart as they exchanged hundreds of letters. On board John threw himself into riotous parties until his conscience ceased to function and he could sin with an untroubled mind. The crisis came during a dreadful storm that started on March 10th 1748. The Greyhound settled so low in the water that only her cargo of beeswax and timber kept her afloat. After 4 weeks of incredible hardships she limped into Lough Swilly in the North of Ireland.

After many near death experiences, and through God’s amazing grace, John eventually yielded his life to Christ. He married Mary in 1750 who sadly died 40 years later. John became a famous London preacher and many were converted including William Wilberforce. John died aged 82 but his experiences had helped Wilberforce to fight the slave trade.