Olney Hymns

Summary

Olney Hymns is a collection of 348 hymns published in London in 1779 by John Newton, curate of the small market town of Olney in Buckinghamshire, and his friend the poet William Cowper. Newton wrote most of them; Cowper contributed sixty-eight, marked with a C in the first edition. Many were written for the weekly prayer meetings Newton led for his parishioners, and he explained in the preface that he aimed for plain language that ordinary worshippers could understand. The collection is arranged in three books. Book I follows the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, with each hymn based on a particular text. Book II deals with occasional subjects such as the seasons, the new year, funerals and providence. Book III traces the spiritual life: conviction of sin, seeking, conflict, comfort, dedication, cautions, praise and the hope of heaven. The best-known hymn is Newton's 'Faith's Review and Expectation', written for New Year's Day 1773 and based on 1 Chronicles 17, now known by its opening words, 'Amazing grace'. Newton had once been a slave-ship captain, and the hymn's language of a wretch saved by grace reflects his understanding of his own past, though at the time of writing he had not yet publicly opposed the trade. Other lasting hymns include Newton's 'Glorious things of thee are spoken' and 'How sweet the name of Jesus sounds', and Cowper's 'God moves in a mysterious way' and 'There is a fountain filled with blood'. Cowper's contributions are often more inward and troubled, and some, written during periods of depression, describe spiritual darkness with great honesty. Newton's are more direct and narrative, often drawing on his experience at sea. The hymns spread through evangelical Anglican and Nonconformist congregations. 'Amazing Grace' became especially popular in the United States in the nineteenth century, sung to the tune now called New Britain, and later became one of the best known songs in the world.

Top Lessons

• Personal testimony in public song

  Newton turns his own life story into words a congregation can sing.

• Honesty about doubt

  Cowper's hymns admit darkness and struggle as part of faith.

• Writing for ordinary people

  Newton aimed for plain language that his parishioners could understand and sing.

• For the Christian reader

  Olney Hymns gave the church 'Amazing Grace' and 'Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken' by Newton and 'God Moves in a Mysterious Way' by Cowper. Newton, a former slave-ship captain, wrote out of his own conversion; Cowper, who suffered severe depression, wrote honestly of darkness and hope. Students can sing these hymns and trace their phrases to Scripture.

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