The Old Rugged Cross Hymn Story

The old rugged cross is a popular hymn written in 1912 by evangelist and song leader george bennard.

The old rugged cross hymn story.

His mind went back again and again to christ s anguish on the cross. Story behind the hymn when polls are taken to determine the most popular american hymns invariably near the top of the list is the old rugged cross it has been the most favored of the approximate 300 songs written by george bennard. The hymn quickly spread throughout the region and came to the attention of the evangelist billy sunday who frequently utilized it in his meetings. Back in 1913 george bennard was struggling with a problem that caused him much suffering.

The cross he pictured was no gold covered icon. As a methodist evangelist george bennard wrote the first verse of the old rugged cross in albion michigan in the fall of 1912 as a response to ridicule that he had received at a revival meeting bennard traveled with ed e. George s coal miner father died when george. This was the heart of the gospel.

Today that same church building originally a hops barn is owned by the non profit old rugged cross foundation and welcomes thousands of visitors annually. Hymn story the old rugged cross hymn lists by book of bible george bennard 1873 1958 was born in youngstown ohio but his family moved to iowa where he accepted christ as his savior at a revival meeting sponsored by the salvation army. Mieras from chicago to sturgeon bay wisconsin where they held evangelistic meetings at the friends church from december 29 1912.