The Old Rugged Cross Hymn Story

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.

The old rugged cross hymn story.

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. His mind went back again and again to christ s anguish on the cross. The old rugged cross during the early years of his ministry rev. Mieras from chicago to sturgeon bay wisconsin where they held evangelistic meetings at the friends church from december 29 1912.

The cross he pictured was no gold covered icon. 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 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. 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. This was the heart of the gospel.