The “Amazing Grace” of History

Ten Important Differences between the Movie and History

1. Downplaying Wilberforce’s Faith: The major difference between the movie and history is the way Wilberforce’s faith is downplayed. He was not just a great statesman who happened to be a Christian. All that he did was profoundly driven by his faith. He described his conversion as the chief event of his life. His conversion was a result of a seeing the guilt of his sin and his need for salvation in Jesus Christ. It was not just that he learned to appreciate the beauty of spider webs.

2. Downplaying Faith of Other Abolitionists: Thomas Clarkson was a devout evangelical Christian. In the movie, he is portrayed as the one in the group who is more worldly and less religious. The truth is that nearly all of the abolitionists in England were deeply committed Christians. Most were serious evangelicals, along with fewer Quakers and Moravians. Not only is the faith of Wilberforce downplayed, but the faith of the whole group of abolitionists is marginalized.

3. Wilberforce’s Work with Equiano: Wilberforce did not work closely with Olaudah Equiano, the former slave. They likely met each other at some point, but the movie added him because he was an important abolitionist who lived in England around the same time. Equiano was also a serious evangelical Christian. His 1789 autobiography (which I highly recommend) is not only a classical slave narrative, but it is also an edifying story of his conversion to Christ. The verse that was key to his conversion was Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

4. Pitt’s Exaggerated Role: William Pitt did not introduce Wilberforce to the abolitionists. Pitt did, however, encourage Wilberforce to pursue the abolition of the slave trade, partly because he wanted to keep Wilberforce in the House, and he knew that Wilberforce needed a “cause” for which to fight. Pitt spoke in favor of abolition, but backed off when England entered into war with France in 1793.

5. Fox’s Final Speech: Lord Charles Fox was not alive to make the speech the filmmakers put in his mouth when the slave trade ends. He actually died in 1806, a year before the bill for the abolition of the slave trade passed. There was, however, a famous speech about Wilberforce made in the House on the night the bill was passed. The speech, given by solicitor-general Romilly, contrasted the consciences of two great men– Wilberforce and Napoleon Bonaparte.

6. Romantic License: Not surprisingly, much of the romance between Wilberforce and Barbara Spooner is fabricated. Wilberforce was not “set up” by the Thorntons (although this part of the movie is very entertaining). In fact, he wanted to get married. A more significant difference is that the movie emphasizes the “like-mindedness” between Wilberforce and Spooner on nearly every political issue, including animal rights. The reality is that Barbara was not really a political activist. What they were “like-minded” about were their serious evangelical convictions. Like Wilberforce’s family, Barbara’s parents were dismayed about their daughter’s radical conversion to the evangelical faith. Note: Wilberforce and Barbara really did move along quickly in their relationship. They were engaged eight days after they first met and married two weeks later. He was 37, and she was 20.

7. Newton the Hermit: Perhaps one of the most inaccurate aspects of the movie is the portrayal of John Newton, the famous pastor and hymn-writer. They portray him as a monk-like hermit, who passes his time cleaning the church floors. Newton was no hermit. Although evangelicals were certainly frowned upon by the establishment, Newton was the foremost evangelical preacher in London. Unlike the way he is portrayed in the movie, historians describe Newton as “emotionally healthy and theologically well-balanced.”

8. Newton the Haunted: Newton was not as reticent to recount his slave trade experiences as the movie makes him out to be. The movie shows Newton as not wanting to talk to anyone about his slave past and only writing about it much later in life to help the abolition cause and perhaps soothe his tortured psyche. The truth is that Newton freely talked about his experiences as a slave trader. Newton even most likely personally shared his experiences with Wilberforce when he was a young boy. He published his life story depicting his time as a slave ship captain in 1764. Newton also published a treatise for the abolition of the slave trade in 1787, the same year that Wilberforce decided to take up his campaign against the slave trade.

9. Newton the Helpful: The movie has Wilberforce paying a surprise visit to Newton. Wilberforce’s visitation of Newton after his conversion, however, was no surprise. He had written three days earlier and they arranged the meeting for December 7, 1785. At this meeting, Newton was much more helpful to Wilberforce than the movie indicates. He helped solidify Wilberforce’s newfound evangelical convictions and see that God’s “amazing grace” was sufficient to save a “wretch” like him. Furthermore, Newton was not in the gallery of the House of Commons when the slave trade was abolished.

10. Pitt’s Deathbed: First of all, Wilberforce never was able to speak to Pitt on his deathbed, a fact which he deeply grieved. Moreover, if he had been there, Wilberforce surely would have shared the gospel with the dying Pitt! He always was looking for opportunities (which he called “launchers”) to share the gospel. What better “launcher” than a man on his deathbed saying, “I wish I had your faith”? Wilberforce was very zealous in sharing his faith, as evidenced by his book A Practical View of Christianity, which purposed to make the truths of the Bible known to the common people (like a late 18th century version of Basic Christianity).