An evening with John Newton

Getting on for 200 were in attendance last night for an evening with John Newton, organised by The Banner of Truth. It was held in St Mary Woolnoth in the City of London where Newton latterly ministered. Mark Johnston chaired and Brian Edwards spoke first in his usually succinct style giving an overview of Newton's life and saying a little about his slavery and anti-slavery connections. He closed with two fair questions about slavery and worker exploitation and about abortion today.

After a 10 minute break Anglican George Curry spoke on Newton's Anglicanism and ministry. I don't tend to think of Newton as an Anglican although he clearly was. Mr Curry pointed to the various factors that led him to this position (admiration for Whitefield and the influence of various other Anglicans, pressure from his wife's family) and his own poor pragmatic arguments (gospel more important than church order, all churches mixed, liturgy okay and the main one - a good boat to fish from). It is a pity that he became an Anglican but having become one he did not simply abandon his nonconformist connections as some do but worked hard to keep them up. If only more (like Mr Curry) were more willing to do that today. As for ministry we were given many challenges as we looked at his devotional life, his Calvinism, his catholicity, his care for God's people, etc. This excellent message would be well worth getting hold of.