Christianity from the 43 bus: 13. John Newton

Continuing a journey through London on the 43 bus route - with a Christian eye.  The whole series is viewable on the '43 bus route' tag below.

Although the 43 bus route has often been changed over the years, and is due to change again shortly, conveniently for my blog it heads down Moorgate into the City of London, passing the west side of the Bank of England.  There it enters King William Street.

There on the first corner it comes to another candidate for the ugliest church in London (see THIS EARLIER BLOG), this time St Mary Woolnoth.   It is one of the almost unimaginable number of Church of England churches serving the City of London (and its population of less than 9000).

What sets St Mary Woolnoth apart is one of its former incumbents, John Newton.  Though famed as the sea captain of slaving ships who was dramatically converted and became vicar of Olney in Buckinghamshire, Newton was latterly the minister of St Mary Woolnoth.  He was famed in his day, and history has given him - and his hymn Amazing Grace, more fame still.

Wisely, perhaps, he chose to write his own epitaph, which to this day is on the church wall inside:

John Newton, 

clerk, 

once an infidel and libertine, 

a servant of slaves in Africa, 

was by the rich mercy of 

our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 

preserved, restored, pardoned, 

and appointed to preach the faith

 he had long laboured to destroy.

Election

Last Sunday we had an Election Hustings at our Church.  We were very grateful that all the candidates were willing to turn up (which was something the BBC didn't achieve with the party leaders . . .!).

One reason why they turned up is probably connected to the work of the Churches in the community and this was referenced by several of them.  Indeed, in a manner not noticed on TV when MPs are interviewed they were almost all keen to stress some participation or support for the work of the churches.

The Bible didn't do as well.

The issue, as ever with the Bible, is the issue of authority.  No candidate is overly keen to feel bound by an old set of books.  Whilst the Churches represent something splendid in community voluntary work the Bible represents something like the Monarch's throne in parliament - a piece of history that represents an old, discredited authority.

The tour guide in the Palace of Westminster stands by this painting in St Stephen's Hall, the place where the Commons formerly met. She explains some of the momentous things that happened here in days gone by.  She cites most approvingly the efforts - at this very spot - by which William Wilberforce led the brave and challenging political fight against slavery.  She omits to mention the picture,  It is of the English people reading the Bible despite persecution.

So much of what is strong about our nation is not, historically, attributable to the Church.  It is attributable to the Bible.  This has been recognised at coronations as on the walls of parliament.  If only it were recognised in the Palace of Westminster; in this society; in the church, even.