Editing Gospel music (section)

=== 18th century ===
Perhaps the most famous gospel–based hymns were composed in the 1760s and 1770s by English writers [[John Newton]] ("[[Amazing Grace]]") and [[Augustus Toplady]] ("Rock of Ages"), members of the [[Anglican Church]]. Starting out as lyrics only, decades were needed for standardized tunes to be added to them. Although not directly connected with African–American gospel music, they were adopted by African Americans as well as white Americans, and Newton's connection with the [[Abolitionism|abolition]] movement provided cross–fertilization.