Travelers motor the glide of Donegal , Ireland , may be puzzled by the route preindication proclaim , “ You Are in Amazing Grace Country . ” Though " Amazing Grace " is powerfully linked to the United StatesCivil Rightsmovement — and achieved pop - culture prestigiousness whenAretha Franklinrecorded it on her best - selling gospel album of the same name — the Sung was support off the shores of Buncrana , a 6000 - someone town along the Wild Atlantic Way .
The History of “Amazing Grace”
“ Amazing Grace ” was written byJohn Newton , an English striver trader - turned - rector . During his early years at sea , Newton bemock faith . But a nigh - death experience changed his views .
While get in aviolent stormoff the coast of Buncrana in 1748 , Newton beg the ship and gang would be write . Right after a member of the crewreplaced himon the deck , that man was dash into the wave and drowned . Newton and the rest of the gang survived the storm and theharrowing journeyto land . For him , their redemption sparked a spiritual wakening .
Despite his newfound faith , Newton bear on to wreak in the hard worker deal . Heretiredfor medical reasons in 1754 , then studied theology and became a minister in 1764 . He write , “ I once was lost , but now am find / Was blind , but now I see , ” and the rest of the stirring wrangle that would go on to become " Amazing gracility " to follow his sermon for New Year ’s Day 1773 , while minister of religion of an Anglican church in Olney , England . The text was later published in 1779 inOlney Hymns in Three Books , a digest of dozen of hymns Newton wrote with poet William Cowper .
Newton ’s sermon soon becamepopularin the newly formed U.S. It was publish in New York City in 1790 and Philadelphia the next year . Many Baptist , Congregationalist , and Reformed churches used it in their hymnals by the other 1830s , but the composer of its euphony is unknown . A similarmelody , titled “ Harmony Grove , ” first appear in 1831 in a songbook calledThe Virginia Harmony , but it was paired with Scripture from a different anthem . After composer William Walker pull off the melody , renamed it “ New Britain , ” and paired it with Newton ’s words , that variant appeared for the first time in 1835 inThe Southern Harmony , a popular songbook . The hymn first appearedin printwith the title “ Amazing Grace ” in1877’sSacred Songs and Solos .
A Slave Trader Reforms
As the populace ’s perceptual experience of slavery and the hard worker trade shifted in Great Britain , so too did Newton ’s . In 1788 , four decades after the wreck that sparked his ghostly awakening , he compose a pamphlet entitledThoughts Upon the African Slave Tradethat was charge to all Members of Parliament [ PDF ] . In it , he wrote , “ It will always be a field of study of humbling thoughtfulness to me , that I was , once , an active musical instrument in a business at which my heart now shudders . ”
He continued to prophesy his abolitionist view . “ The blood of many thou of our incapacitated , much injured companion wight is crying against us , " hestatedin 1797 . " The pitiful province of the survivor who are torn from their relatives , link and their entire land must be take into account . ”
Newton greatlyinfluencedWilliam Wilberforce , the English lawmaker whose passionate , 20 - year struggle to end slavery resulted in the 1807 police that end the trade of enslaved people in the British West Indies . When Wilberforce was a kid , Newton was his pastor , and later his wise man . The jurisprudence passed the year Newton exit . Because it did n’t regard the status of those enslave before its passage , a later jurisprudence in 1833 , theSlavery Abolition Act , freed over 800,000 enslaved hoi polloi in the British West Indies and South Africa , plus some in British Canada .
“Amazing Grace” Today
Almost 200 years after Newton wrote its lyric poem , “ Amazing Grace ” became theballadof the U.S. Civil Rights Movement . During the sixties , it was sung at manyMartin Luther King Jr. rallies by Mahalia Jackson .
The song stay prominent in the 21st century as well . When PresidentBarack Obamawas elected , it was sung at the Inaugural Prayer Service in 2009 . Obama himself sing it during the funeral for the South Carolina land senator kill in the 2015 Charleston church shot . A Broadwaymusicalabout the song even debuted in 2015 .
Ireland ’s Buncrana still observe its connection to the anthem . The Ithiel Town hosts an annual “ Amazing Grace”festival , boast music , dance , art , and historic reenactments in period of time wearing apparel . It ’s also home to Amazing Grace Park , ascenic spotoverlooking the ocean . The Mungo Park open up in 2013 , and was create with the help of the Inishowen Development Partners and the Buncrana Town Council .
There , you ’ll find mosaic design by local artist Andrew Garvey - Williams that depict Newton ’s ship , The Greyhound ; the words " Amazing Grace " in Newton ’s handwriting ; and broken chains symbolize the end of slavery . visitant will also spot signs quoting lines from Newton ’s autobiography and other writings , which along with the mosaic , assure the surprising story behind the song .
