''The Virginia Harmony'' is a shape note tune book published in 1831 in

Winchester, Virginia Winchester is the most north western independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the county seat of Frederick County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Winchester wit ...

and compiled by Methodist lay preacher James P. Carrell (1787–1854) and Presbyterian elder David S. Clayton (1801–1854). It is one of the earliest known print sources of the tune for "

Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is an immensely popular hymn, particularly in the United States, where it is used for both ...

", given in ''The Virginia Harmony'' as "Harmony Grove" and used as a setting for the

Isaac Watts Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748) was an English Congregational minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician. He was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. His works include "When I Survey the ...

hymn "There Is a Land of Pure Delight". The "Amazing Grace" text was not set to this melody until the 1847 ''

Southern Harmony The ''Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion'' is a shape note hymn and tune book compiled by William Walker, first published in 1835. The book is notable for having originated or popularized several hymn tunes found in modern hymnals and s ...

'', where the tune was called "New Britain".

Sources

Shape note Song books 1831 books {{music-publication-stub