City's link to Amazing Grace; Tribute to anti-slavery campaigner.Byline: ALANWESTON HE MAY not be a household name, but he wrote one of the most famous anthems of all time. Now Liverpool has become the first place on this side of the Atlantic to unveil an artwork in tribute to John Newton For other persons of the same name, see John Newton (disambiguation). John Newton (July 24, 1725 – December 21, 1807) was an Anglican clergyman who had, at one time, been a slaveship master. He is best known as the author of the hymn Amazing Grace. , the for mer slave ship commander who went on to become an antislavery campaigner after a religious conversion, an event which inspired Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a well-known Christian hymn. The words were written late in 1772 by Englishman John Newton. They first appeared in print in Newton's Olney Hymns, 1779 that he worked on with William Cowper. . The hymn was written in 1772 and is now said to be the most recorded song in the world, with more than 3,000 versions made in the USA alone. The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones James Jones is the name of:
After renouncing his past as a slave trader, Newton became Tide Surveyor of Liverpool and then an Anglican priest, joining forces with William Wilberforce to campaign for the abolition of the slave trade slave trade Capturing, selling, and buying of slaves. Slavery has existed throughout the world from ancient times, and trading in slaves has been equally universal. Slaves were taken from the Slavs and Iranians from antiquity to the 19th century, from the sub-Saharan . The unveiling of the artwork was preceded by a performance of Newton's famous hymn by the Liver pool-based Sense of Sound choir, finalists in this year's BBC BBC in full British Broadcasting Corp. Publicly financed broadcasting system in Britain. A private company at its founding in 1922, it was replaced by a public corporation under royal charter in 1927. Last Choir Standing competition. Bishop James said: "For many years, ever since I came to Liverpool, I thought it was appropriate there should be a memorial to this extraordinary man, who wrote the universal anthem Amazing Grace. "He was rescued from the degradation of the slave trade, from which he then endeavoured to rescue other people. "The battle to abolish the slave trade was fought on the streets of this city. "Liverpool led in the slave trade, but also led in its abolition. "By unveiling this memorial to Newton's universal anthem, we pledge to strive against the racism endemic not just to our society, but throughout the world. "It would be great to say racism and slavery was something which vanished 200 years ago. "The tragedy is, it still exists in the world today." Newton's conversion began in May, 1748, after he and his crew were returning to England, via the Atlantic triangle trade route, and encountered a severe storm. He awoke in the middle of the night, fell to his knees and prayed. As he said the Lord's Prayer, the water began to leave the ship and the storm calmed. But the hymn's famous melody was only joined to Newton's lyric in 1835, after it was taken up by the descendants of slaves who Newton transported from Africa to America in his early life. The artwork was created by artist Stephen Broadbent, who was responsible for a wide variety of other public artworks around the city of Liverpool The term City of Liverpool may refer to: England
His installation, created from pierced steel plates, represents the three continents of the triangular slave trade - Africa, Europe and North America. Mr Broadbent said: "This story of how lyric and melody came together was a wonderful story to try and tell." The hymn's popularity grew after it was taken up by both sides in the American Civil War. It is also considered a Cherokee national anthem, and many contemporary Native American musicians have recorded it. In recent years, the song has become popular in the USA with drug and alcohol recovery groups, particularly Christian ones, at celebrations of how they "once were lost, but now are found". It has also become known as a favourite with supporters of freedom and human rights, because many assume it to be Newton's testimony about his slave trading past. The unveiling of the installation yesterday also marked the completion of work on the new Pier Head ferry terminal building. Merseytravel chief executive Neil Scales said: "We are very proud of what we have achieved with this building and our role in stimulating the environment with public artwork." CAPTION(S): The Transatlantic Slavery Gallery, at Merseyside Maritime Museum The Merseyside Maritime Museum is a museum based in the city of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. The city’s seafaring heritage is brought to life within the historic Albert Dock. Picture: MARTIN Liverpool choir Sense of Sound performing yesterday Code: cl090709amazinggrace-3 The Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, with artist Stephen Broadbent and his tribute to anti-slavery campaigner John Newton, who wrote Amazing Grace Pictures: COLIN LANE/ cl090709amazinggrace- |
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