John Newton (1725-1807)

Anglican clergyman and hymn writer

Summary

• Son of a shipmaster and entered naval service
• 1748 - 10 March - converted
• 1755 - Surveyor of Tides in Liverpool
• 1757 - Sought to be ordained but was refused
• 1764 - Ordained to Curacy of Olney, Buckinghamshire, by the Bishop of Lincoln.
• Collaborated with William Cowper in producing Olney Hymns
• 1780 - Rector of Woolnoth St. Mary (London)
• Newton was a firm Calvinist and influenced many of the leaders of the Evangelical Revival. Also aided William Wilberforce in the campaign against slavery.
• Famous hymns include 'Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken', 'How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds' and 'Amazing Grace'
• 1807 - 21 December died in Woolnoth

John Newton Biography by A W Parsons

Published by Church Book Room Press

• Newton's early life
• His conversion
• His ordination
• The Olney Hymns
• Newton and Cowper
• Newton in London
• Newton and Missions
• Eventide

Articles about Newton

• The Life and Works of John Newton (1725-1807) Part 1 - Early Life and Adventures at Sea. Churchman article (1942) by F. H. Durnford

• The Life and Works of John Newton (1725-1807) Part 2 - Residence at Liverpool & Part 3 - The Ministry at Olney. Churchman article (1942) by F. H. Durnford

• The Life and Works of John Newton (1725-1807) - Part 4 - The Ministry at St Mary, Woolnoth & Part 5 - Newton's contribution to English Religious Literature. Churchman article (1942) by F. H. Durnford

• John Newton and Slavery. Cross†Way article by David Streater (Issue 44, 1992)

See Also

Cowper's Olney Hymns - A Critical Study. Churchman article by Arthur Pollard, 1955.

Simeon, Thornton, and Newton - Letters. Correspondence between these three evangelicals at the start of Simeon's ministry in Cambridge. Churchman article by William Carus from 1880.

Olney Hymns 1779 (Part 1 - The book and its origins). Churchman article by Robin Leaver.

Olney Hymns 1779 (Part 2 - The hymns and their use). Churchman article by Robin Leaver.

Olney Hymns 1779: A Documentary Footnote. Churchman article by Robin Leaver.

William Cowper - Part 1. Churchman article from 1881 by Charles Bell.

William Cowper - Part 2. Churchman article from 1881 by Charles Bell.

The Olney Museum (offsite link) which includes further information on Newton and Amazing Grace.