John Newton: - Author of "Amazing Grace" and over two hundred other Olney Hymns was born in Wapping. His mother died when he was 6 years old, and he had a rather unhappy life when sent away to school.

Newton served on board his father's ship at the early age of eleven, sailing to the Mediterranean. While on shore leave in England, he met Mary Catlett who was 14 and too young to become his wife, but who captivated him and stayed in his thoughts throughout his adventures.

Due to staying overlong at her house on one of his visits, he was caught and press-ganged as an ordinary seaman on HMS Harwich. Subsequently he was exchanged for a merchant seaman and so returned to a life in maritime trade.

While working on the West African coast buying slaves, he had an argument with his employer and was "enslaved" himself, working on a plantation and receiving brutal treatment at the hands of his owner's wife. He was eventually rescued in 1747 and returned to England on the "Greyhound".

Once more at sea in 1748, he was caught up in a violent storm which led to his first prayers since his mother's death and started the spiritual journey that would culminate in his Evangelism.

In 1750 he finally married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Catlett whom he called 'Polly' and with whom he later lived "in harmony and.......... with ever increasing affection!".

After his marriage, his career in the slave trade continued. Illness made it necessary for him to leave the sea and he took work as Surveyor of Tides (or Customs Officer) at Liverpool.

His desire to enter the Ministry grew stronger. Newton initially had trouble in his quest for ordination and so took to preaching around the country . Eventually he attracted the patronage of Lord Dartmouth, was ordained and appointed curate of Olney, Bucks.

He wrote: 'The people here (at Olney) are mostly poor the country low and dirty.' But he was full of plans to help 'The poor ignorant lacemakers'.

While in Olney, Bucks he held a weekly Bible meeting the popularity of which was such that it soon had to move from the Vicarage to The Great House.

Newton was a regular visitor to Orchard Side and collaborated with William Cowper (1731-1800) poet, letter-writer and classical scholar in creating the famous Olney Hymns. A man of great spiritual stature and humility, his warmth and sincerity shone through. His obituary stated "His unblemished life, his amiable character, both as a man and as a Minister, and his able writings, are too well-known to need any comment."