John Newton’s epitaph, which he penned himself, and his immortal hymn Amazing Grace both give accounts of his dramatic conversion. His tombstone, which stands in a small parish cemetery in Olney, England reads:

John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the Faith he had long labored to destroy.

   Born in 1725, his godly mother died when he was seven and at age eleven he began life as a seaman on his father’s ship. His life was one of rebellion and debauchery. He eventually became captain of his own slave ship and spent numerous years capturing, transporting, and selling slaves from Africa.
   Then on March 10, 1748, while returning to England from Africa in a severe storm, he began to read Thomas à Kempis’ book, Imitation of Christ. His heart was stirred and he was converted. For the next several years he tried to improve the conditions on his ship as much as possible. Eventually, he realized the inhuman treatment of slaves could not be reconciled with Christianity, so he left the trade and returned to England. Later, greatly influenced by George Whitefield and the Wesleys, and feeling the call to preach, he studied and was then ordained a Priest in the Anglican Church.
   Newton spent the next fifteen years as pastor of a small parish in Olney. He also preached at large gatherings where crowds would turn out to hear the conversion story of the old sea captain. The rather staid metric psalms still being sung in the Anglican Church were a poor companion for his fiery preaching, so he used hymns. When he could not find enough to serve his purposes, he wrote his own.
   He befriended his chronically depressed and sometimes delusional neighbor and parishioner William Cowper, who was a poet in his own right. Newton did everything he could to help him and draw him out of depression. The two men published a collection of 349 hymns, the famous Olney Hymns, sixty-seven of which were attributed to Cowper, the rest to Newton.
   Newton’s autobiographical Amazing Grace is one of the most popular hymns in the English speaking world. It is best known today sung to the haunting American folk melody from Carrel and Clayton’s Virginia Harmony, 1831.
   Two other strong Newton hymns find their way into modern hymnals: Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken, which speaks of the strength of Zion (Jerusalem), the city of God, and How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds, which expounds the restorative and healing virtues of the names and titles of Jesus.
   After his years in Olney, Newton spent the remaining twenty-eight years of his life and ministry at the influential St. Mary Woolnoth Church in London. During these years he developed a strong relationship with William Wilberforce and other political leaders who sought to abolish slave trade. Slavery was finally abolished throughout the British empire in 1807, the year of Newton’s death.
   Newton never stopped preaching. When shortly before his death it was suggested he retire due to his failing health, eyesight, and memory, he responded, “What, shall the old African blasphemer stop while he can still speak?” On another occasion he proclaimed in a loud voice, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior.” The saving gospel of Jesus Christ was on his lips until his death and is still being preached through his hymns, his epitaph, and the compelling stories about his life.