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. Back in 1913 george bennard was struggling with a problem that caused him much suffering. This was the heart of the gospel. The story behind the old rugged cross. George s coal miner father died when george.

His mind went back again and again to christ s anguish on the cross. Mieras from chicago to sturgeon bay wisconsin where they held evangelistic meetings at the friends church from december 29 1912. 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. 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 cross he pictured was no gold covered icon. The old rugged cross during the early years of his ministry rev. 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.