Other

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

The Compass v2 Podcast

The Compass

Documentaries

Factual: Life Stories

With ideas too big for a single episode, The Compass presents mini-series about society

Surprising stories from unusual places. With ideas too big for a single episode, The Compass presents mini-series about the environment and politics, culture and society.

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

The Compass: Soul Music: Soul Music: Amazing Grace

Factual

Ship Sailing in a Storm

23/06/2016 GMT

Soul Music: Amazing Grace

Soul Music

BBC World Service - The Compass, Soul Music, Soul Music: Amazing Grace

How John Newton's near-death experience prompted his hymn Amazing Grace

How John Newton's near-death experience prompted his hymn Amazing Grace. With Martin Bell, Judy Collins and Bob Zellner.

The hymn amazing Grace has inspired and uplifted people all over the world. We hear about its influence on the civil rights movement in America, how it changed the fate of a British soldier in the Arabian desert, and its unexpected appearance in the film Star Trek: the Wrath of Khan. 

We also hear the story of John Newton, the man who wrote it. Taken from his first love, he was press ganged into service at sea, shackled to a ship’s deck for 40 hours and contemplated murdering his captain. But he wrote the hymn after his ship was caught in a terrible storm and he, miraculously, survived.

(Photo: Ship sailing in a storm. Credit: Thinkstock)

The Compass: Soul Music

A series of programmes about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Compass

Soul Music

Soul Music: Amazing Grace

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

About BBC World Service