2007

2007 will be the bicentenary of the death of John Newton.

(He died in 1807 at the age of 82.)

This is a great opportunity to tell the story behind Amazing Grace and to consider the wide ranging effects of Newton's 43 years' Christian ministry.

2007 also coincides with bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. A former slave trader in his 20's, Newton preached, wrote and testified before the Privy Council against the slave trade. For twenty years he mentored William Wilberforce in his struggle to get the bill through parliament.

2007 is also the tercentenary of the birth of another great hymn writer, Charles Wesley. Charles asked Newton to be one of the eight pall-bearers at his funeral. Somewhere there is a friendship between these two great people to be unraveled.