200th Anniversary of the act to abolish slavery

John Newton the writer of Amazing Grace was the son of a sailor, he went to sea with his father, but was then "pressed" into the British Navy, he escaped and was clapped in irons, he later became a servant to a slaver in Africa and was rescued by a sea captain who had been a friend of his father. He then worked on slave ships and was a captain of slave ships - a storm threatened to overwhelm the ship and Newton prayed for God's mercy - this was the beginning of his conversion. Newton continued to work on slave ships but later became a priest and regretted and repented his involvement in the slave trade. He encouraged William Wilberforce of stay in Parliament and "serve God where he was" rather than enter the ministry

Done