Few hymns have touched as many lives as “Amazing Grace.” Written in 1772 by John Newton — a former slave trader turned abolitionist — it has become the most well-known and most-sung hymn on the globe.

Newton’s life was anything but ordinary. Raised in England, he lost his mother at a young age and was often left alone as his father spent long stretches at sea. As a teenager, he felt unloved and adrift. When his father finally took him to sea, his struggles only deepened. At 18, he was forcibly recruited into the Royal Navy. When he attempted to desert, he was caught, imprisoned, and flogged. Eventually, he found himself working on a slave ship, a trade he would later come to renounce.

Newton’s life was anything but ordinary. Raised in England, he lost his mother at a young age and was often left alone as his father spent long stretches at sea. As a teenager, he felt unloved and adrift. When his father finally took him to sea, his struggles only deepened. At 18, he was forcibly recruited into the Royal Navy. When he attempted to desert, he was caught, imprisoned, and flogged. Eventually, he found himself working on a slave ship, a trade he would later come to renounce.

Rescue finally came in 1748 when a sea captain, sent by Newton’s father, retrieved him and brought him back to England aboard the ship Greyhound. But it was on that very ship, off the coast of Ireland, that Newton’s true rescue began. Caught in a violent storm and fearing for his life, he prayed for mercy. That moment marked the start of his spiritual journey.

While Newton began to read the Bible and seek God, he still captained three more slave-trading voyages. It wasn’t until 1798 that he fully renounced his past and dedicated himself to Christ.

Newton became a beloved pastor, mentoring young Christians and writing hymns—348 in total. Among them was “Amazing Grace,” a song that would take on a life of its own. Originally paired with a Moravian tune, it later found its famous melody, New Britain, with its hauntingly beautiful minor key.

A Legacy Lives On

This hymn has resonated across centuries, sung at funerals, churches, and gatherings worldwide. Three centuries after Newton’s birth, his story continues to inspire. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of “Amazing Grace”, Haven Ministries has produced a powerful film about Newton’s life. Bruce Hindmarsh, the world’s leading authority on Newton, consulted on the project, bringing his deep knowledge from years of research at Oxford University. His book further explores how Newton’s hymns spread during the Great Awakening and beyond.

Newton understood the hope and redemption found only in Jesus Christ—and you can too. Explore more about true grace on our Grace in Jesus page. Or dive deeper with a 12-part group study led by Dr. Hindmarsh, filmed on location in England.