The story behind ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ hymn continues to inspire believers around the world. This beloved hymn reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice and the lasting hope we find at the cross.
As Christians, we often return to the cross as our place of peace. It reminds us of the cost of our salvation and the love of our Savior.
The hymn ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ captures that devotion in simple, heartfelt words that continue to speak to our hearts today.
Who Wrote ‘The Old Rugged Cross’?
The hymn was written in 1912 by George Bennard, an American evangelist and hymn writer. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1873, Bennard moved with his family to Iowa as a child.
After his father died, 16-year-old Bennard took on the responsibility of supporting his mother and sisters, working in the coal mines of Iowa. These early struggles shaped his faith and sense of purpose.
Bennard came to Christ during a Salvation Army meeting in Lucas, Iowa. He and his wife later served as Salvation Army officers, committed to ministry and outreach.
He eventually became a Methodist minister, preaching the gospel and leading music at revival meetings across the country.
The Inspiration Behind ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ Hymn
The story behind ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ began during a season of personal suffering and spiritual searching. Bennard was wrestling with the meaning of the cross in his own life and ministry.
He later described that time as a spiritual struggle, “I was praying for a full understanding of the cross… I saw the Christ of the cross as if I were seeing John 3:16 leave the printed page, take form, and act out the meaning of redemption.”
Where Was ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ Written and First Performed?
It was during a revival series in Albion, Michigan, that Bennard began to write what became ‘The Old Rugged Cross.’
While preparing messages, he began to reflect more and more on the cross and what it truly meant for salvation.
As he prayed and meditated, the words of a song began to take shape. He first wrote the chorus:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
He completed the hymn in Albion, Michigan, and first performed it on June 7, 1913, at a revival service at the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Pokagon, Michigan.
A local choir helped him present the song to the congregation. The response was immediate and heartfelt.
The hymn was published by Hope Publishing Company in 1915 and soon gained popularity through the evangelistic campaigns of Billy Sunday.
Homer Rodeheaver, a well-known gospel singer and music publisher, helped promote it nationwide.
The Message of the Hymn
Each verse of the hymn points to the suffering and shame of the cross but also its power and promise. It is a hymn of both sorrow and victory, looking forward to the crown that awaits the faithful.
Bennard once said the hymn came from “a vision I saw of Christ and the cross as if I were seeing it for the first time.”
George Bennard continued to preach and write until his death in 1958. He spent his later years in Reed City, Michigan, where a twelve-foot memorial cross was placed near his home with the words “The Old Rugged Cross.”
The original church in Pokagon where the hymn was first sung has been restored and now serves as a historical site.
This hymn continues to call us back to the center of our faith—the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It reminds us to cling to the cross, not just in moments of hardship but in every season of life.
In our own trials and questions, may we echo the words of the hymn and say with confidence: “I will cling to the old rugged cross.”
WATCH: Gaither performing The Old Rugged Cross At The Billy Graham Library, Charlotte, NC
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