The Connection between Lough Swilly and John Newton

Lough Swilly

Lough Swilly is a sea lough stretching 40 km into County Donegal from the Atlantic Ocean. Also known as the Lake of Shadows, the lough is between 15 and 50 meters deep. It is bordered on the west by Inishowen (Inis Eoghain) – Ireland’s largest peninsula – and by the Fanad peninsula on the east.

Around the lough, the beautiful Donegal coastline includes spectacular cliffs, wide sandy beaches and impressive rock formations with stunning views of the mountains.

Historical Significance

Lough Swilly has played a significant part in Ireland’s history. After a failed general uprising, in September 1607, Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone and Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell set sail from Rathmullan with their followers in the Flight of the Earls never to see Ireland again.

In October 1798 a French fleet carrying Wolfe Tone and troops to assist in the 1798 uprising was intercepted and defeated at the entrance to Lough Swilly. It is commonly believed that he was arrested in Buncrana (Inishowen) and held in the O’Doherty Castle (Buncrana) until being transferred to Derry (Londonderry) and then on to Dublin.

While we know that John Newton’s ship found shelter in Lough Swilly, he does not record the name of the village where “The Greyhound” found safe harbor. We know that the village carpenters worked for five weeks to repair and refit the ship and that it was in easy reach of Derry (Londonderry) where John Newton stayed during this important time in his life. It seems reasonable, although not certain, that the village was Buncrana (now the largest town in Inishowen).

Buncrana

Buncrana is the largest town in Inishowen and the second largest town in County Donegal in the north west of Ireland. Often called “The Gateway to Inishowen”, Buncrana is a popular tourist resort boasting 5km of sandy beaches.

Buncrana's Irish name means "Foot of the River".

From Castle Bridge, which spans the Crana River, a pathway bears left past the O’Doherty Keep and leads to a coastal path which runs for several kilometres along the shores of Lough Swilly.

Offering stunning views over the ‘Lake of Shadows’, the path is a perfect place to view Lough Swilly and to be inspired by thoughts of John Newton and “Amazing Grace”!

The Storm

On the long and dangerous journey back to England, Newton carelessly picked up a Christian book he found in his cabin and started reading, Suddenly, “an involuntary suggestion arose in my mind—What if these things should be true?” Horrified at the thought, he shut the book.

The next day (March 10 1748) the ship was caught in a violent storm. One man was swept overboard and waves crashing over the vessel caused serious damage.

“The sea had torn away the upper timbers on one side, and made the ship a mere wreck in a few minutes,” wrote Newton. “Taking all the circumstances, it was astonishing, and almost miraculous that any of us survived.”

After hours pumping water from the floundering ship, Newton cried, “If this will not do, the Lord have mercy upon us!” He was instantly struck with his own words. “This thought, spoken without much reflection, was the first desire I had breathed for mercy for many years. It directly occurred, “What mercy can there be for me?”

Taking the helm the next day, John had hours to reflect on his messed up life. “I thought there never was or could be such a sinner as myself; I concluded that my sins were too great to be forgiven."

For weeks, the damaged ship was at the mercy of the sea and the crew was close to despair as rations ran short. All this time Newton was reading New Testament… desperate to find out if the God he had rejected for so long was real.

Newton in Ireland

Finally, the wind changed. “We saw the island of Tory and the next day anchored in Lough Swilly in Ireland. This was the 8th day of April, just four weeks after the damage we sustained from the sea.

"When we came into this port, our very last victuals was boiling in the pot; and before we had been there two hours, the wind began to blow with great violence.

"If we had continued at sea that night in our shattered condition, we must have gone to the bottom. About this time I began to know that there is a God that hears and answers prayer.”

In Ireland the crew received a warm welcome from the local villagers on the shores of Lough Swilly. Carpenters went to work repairing the ship. Meanwhile, John Newton visited the city of Derry where he attended church.

While staying in the city, he went out with a shooting party organized by the mayor of Derry and was almost killed in a shooting accident!

Changing

From this time, John Newton’s life began to change as he came to realize that God’s grace could save even a ‘wretch’ like him! Others soon noticed the difference when he stopped swearing and his behavior altered. But he still had much to learn.

Eventually back in his native England, Newton began to grow in his Christian faith and learn from others. He listened to preachers such as George Whitfield and John Wesley who condemned the slave trade and his attitude began to change radically.

He eventually became a clergyman, serving first as a curate in Olney parish church and later in London. Often outspoken, Newton declared that “If he loves Jesus……I will love him – whatever name he may be called by and whatever mistakes I may think he holds……his differing from me will not always prove him to be wrong!” It was radical thinking in a time when denominational labels divided people!

Newton the Hymn Writer

While living in Olney, Newton began to write poems and hymns to express his love for God and encourage people in their worship.

Often he used the lyrics of his hymns to illustrate his sermons.

“Amazing Grace” which described his own spiritual journey, was written to illustrate his New Year’s Day sermon in 1773. The original title of the song was "Faith's Review and Expectation".

As a hymn writer, Newton worked closely with the poet William Cowper to complete a hymn book. Olney Hymns was first published in 1779 including the lyrics to “Amazing Grace” as well as other Newton hymns such as “How Sweet the name of Jesus sounds” and “Glorious things of thee are spoken”.

Newton and the fight to abolish slavery

Despite his earlier involvement in slavery, Newton later rejected the slave trade. He described this "unhappy and disgraceful" trade as contradictory to the "feelings of humanity" and as the "stain of our national character”.

Newton befriended and mentored the young politician William Wilberforce, encouraging and supporting his fight against slavery in the British Empire. In 1787, he wrote a leaflet called “Thoughts upon the African Slave Trade” which supported the campaign.

It took 20 years but finally the first legislation against the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade was passed in 1807. Shortly before he died that same year, the old man declared, “My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior”.