The History and Phenomena of John Newton’s “Amazing Grace!” within American Christianity and Beyond

John Robert Hall, Humanities Teacher Award winner for Holmes Community College, presents his public lecture:

In 1772, John Newton, former slave trader turned Anglican priest, wrote the words to the hymn titled “Amazing Grace!”  Though published in 1779, “Amazing Grace!” remained a lesser known hymn in Great Britain; however, in the nineteenth century in the United States, it grew in popularity, gained a new verse, and secured its now recognizable hymn tune.  From the end of the twentieth century into the twenty-first century, “Amazing Grace!” has become not only a popular song, both musically and lyrically, but often produces phenomena beyond the words of John Newton.