A part of the year of Amazing Grace, the challenge was to bring 250 voices together to perform a new song, written to mark the 250th anniversary of the hymn, Amazing Grace. On 17 June, 2023, Music Director, Craig McCleish met the challenge when 279 singers from 13 choirs joined together for this first public … Read more
New Friends, Flowers and Foliage In June, 5 pupils, accompanying staff and Governors from St Vincent’s Special School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs, Liverpool, spent two days in Olney as part of Amazing Grace 250. Day 1 was Assembly at Olney Middle School to introduce themselves, followed by pancakes for brunch and a visit … Read more
Dr Lauren Alex O’Hagan from the Open University, presents ‘Amazing Grace’ in the Life and Work of Rory Gallagher in this video and article. Rory Gallagher was an Irish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He pioneered the blues over three decades across the globe, performing 2000 concerts until his untimely death in 1995. ‘Amazing Grace’ in … Read more
As part of the Amazing Grace 250 programme we were treated to a talk by Professor John Coffey from the University of Leicester which offered new insights into John Newton’s views about the slave trade. John Newton, the former slave trader, only spoke out in public against the slave trade in the 1780s when he … Read more
The Cowper & Newton Museum was delighted to partner with Milton Keynes Youth Council (MKYC) for this year’s MySayMK youth conference. Voices – Amazing Grace 250 Youth Conference Tuesday 11th July 2023 With activities based at the Cowper & Newton Museum and the parish church of St Peter & St Paul, the conference day offered … Read more
In June, pupils and staff from St Vincent’s Specialist School for Sensory Impairment and Other Needs, Liverpool will be visiting Olney for Seeing Together, a collaborative project as part of Amazing Grace 250. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Mrs Bernadette Buckle, Chair of Governors St Vincent’s, Dr John Patterson, Principal, staff and … Read more
Local community choirs have begun rehearsals of Song 8: A Hymn’s Review?, one section from Forever?, a new piece of music composed for voice and chamber ensemble. As part of Amazing Grace 250, A Hymn’s Review? will be sung by a mass choir of 250 Voices, led by musical director, Craig McLeish, at the Milton … Read more
In March 2023, during a visit to the Cowper & Newton Museum and the town of Olney, musicians Angeline Morrison, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne and Jon Bickley of Invisible Folk creatively explored the words, tunes, meanings and experiences of the hymn Amazing Grace, as well as researched the life of Rev’d John Newton, the writer of the … Read more
We are excited to hear the news that writer Rommi Smith has now finished creating the words for the new composition to mark the 250 anniversary of the hymn Amazing Grace and now composer Roderick Williams is setting them to music. Currently there are creative communications and discussions flying between Roddy, Rommi, the Chineke! Ensemble … Read more
Amazing Grace 250 Voices – Singers, Watch this Space! Singers Watch this Space – Amazing Grace 250 Voices Forever? is a major new piece of music for voice and chamber ensemble which explores what the hymn Amazing Grace means to people today. The Cowper & Newton Museum is delighted to be working with The Stables … Read more
A new music commission (link to the announcement of the new commission in the Observer newspaper) created in response to the 250th anniversary of Amazing Grace has just been announced and we are delighted to share with you the story so far. Back in October 2019 when the Cowper & Newton Museum held the first … Read more
‘I am absolutely thrilled to be part of AG250: working in collaboration with celebrated composer and musician, Roderick Williams, the renown Chineke! ensemble – and dynamic project partners: The Stables and Cowper & Newton Museum. This project is my third collaboration with Williams. Previous collaborations include: Not Yet Here – a creative response to Beethoven’s … Read more
Our Museum building remains CLOSED. We are opening our gardens on limited entry. The Cowper & Newton Museum gardens will be open to welcome you on Wednesday 5th August 10.30 – 12.15 and Saturday 8th August 10.30 – 12.15
(Follow our social media accounts or check back here for further opening days & times as they become available)