The Old Rugged Cross Hymn Story

The hymn quickly spread throughout the region and came to the attention of the evangelist billy sunday who frequently utilized it in his meetings.

The old rugged cross hymn story. The story behind the old rugged cross. George s coal miner father died when george. The old rugged cross is a popular hymn written in 1912 by evangelist and song leader george bennard. 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. George bennard was praying for a full understanding of the cross and its plan in christianity consequently he spent many hours in study prayer and meditation until he could say i saw the christ of the cross as if i were seeing john 3 16 leave the printed page take. This was the heart of the gospel. 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. Mieras from chicago to sturgeon bay wisconsin where they held evangelistic meetings at the friends church from december 29 1912. The old rugged cross during the early years of his ministry rev.