A Christian hymn published in 1779, with words written in 1772 by the English
poet and Anglican clergyman John Newton. Newton wrote the words from personal
experience. He grew up without any particular religious conviction, but his
life's path was formed by a variety of twists and coincidences that were often
put into motion by others' reactions to what they took as his recalcitrant
insubordination.
After it was published, the hymn settled into relative obscurity in England, but
in the United States, "Amazing Grace" became a popular song used by Baptist and
Methodist preachers as part of their evangelizing, especially in the South,
during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century. It has been
associated with more than 20 melodies. In 1835, American composer William Walker
set it to the tune known as "New Britain" in a shape note format. This is the
version most frequently sung today.
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