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 his recalcitrant insubordination. He was pressed (forced) into service in the Royal Navy, and after leaving the service, he became involved in the Atlantic slave trade. In 1748, a violent storm battered his vessel off the coast of County Donegal, Ireland, so severely that he called out to God for mercy, a moment that marked his spiritual conversion. Whilst his boat was being repaired in Lough Swilly, he wrote the first verse of his world famous song. He did however, continue his slave trading career until 1754 or 1755, when he ended his seafaring altogether and began studying Christian theology.
Ordained in the Church of England in 1764, Newton became curate of Olney, Buckinghamshire, where he began to write hymns with poet William Cowper. "Amazing Grace" was written to illustrate a sermon on New Year's Day of 1773. It is unknown if there was any music accompanying the verses; it may have simply been chanted by the congregation. It debuted in print in 1779 in Newton and Cowper's Olney Hymns but settled into relative obscurity in England. In the United States however, "Amazing Grace" was used extensively during the Second Great Awakening in the early 19th century. It has been associated with more than 20 melodies, but in 1835 it was joined to a tune named "New Britain" to which it is most frequently sung today.
With the message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of sins committed and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God, "Amazing Grace" is one of the most recognizable songs in the English-speaking world. Author Gilbert Chase writes that it is "without a doubt the most famous of all the folk hymns,"[1] and Jonathan Aitken, a Newton biographer, estimates that it is performed about 10 million times annually.[2] It has had particular influence in folk music, and has become an emblematic African American spiritual. Its universal message has been a significant factor in its crossover into secular music. "Amazing Grace" saw a resurgence in popularity in the U.S. during the 1960s and has been recorded thousands of times during and since the 20th century, occasionally appearing on popular music charts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace
"In 1748, a violent storm battered his vessel off the coast of County Donegal, Ireland, so severely that he called out to God for mercy, a moment that marked his spiritual conversion."
I hadn't known that he was in the slave business. He DID stay in the slave trade, so I guess his conversion was partial.
God heard his prayer for life and he was inspired to thank our good Lord in song.
I read and learned.
His profession didn't condemn him rather his sins up till the time of the storm and his acceptance of Jesus Christ condemned him. Conversion occurs at the moment we accept Christ as Lord and Savior calling on HIS righteousness which He alone fulfilled for us {not our own righteousness} to save us. The conversion occurs instantly.
The finished product is a lifetime in the making as is the learning and changes it brings. An occurring change starts to happen at acceptance of Jesus Christ in which the time frames and extremes of speed can vary greatly in persons.
He should have left sooner, and popes should not have supported such either.
God heard his prayer for life and he was inspired to thank our good Lord in song.
Indeed, though some RCs think it should not be sung. And I have read that he actually worked to turn souls away from Christ in the years before his conversion, and went thru suffering that should have softened his heart.