Born: February 4, 1873, Youngstown, Ohio.
Died: October 10, 1958, Reed City, Michigan.
Buried: Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California.
Sing this arrangement of The Old Rugged Cross in your church. Download sheet music, chord charts and tracks at Hymncharts.com.
The story of George Bennard, the man behind the beloved hymn “The Old Rugged Cross,” is one woven with trials, perseverance, and ultimate triumph.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1873, Bennard’s early life was marked by carefree days and childhood innocence. But when his father passed away, the mantle of family provider fell on young Bennard’s shoulders at just sixteen years old. He traded playgrounds for coal mines, descending into the dark depths to ensure the survival of his mother and sisters. It was a heavy burden for a child to bear, but Bennard’s strength and determination carried him through.
Years passed, and Bennard’s prayers for deliverance from the mines were finally answered. Love, purpose, and faith entered his life in rapid succession. He married his beloved first wife Hannah (with whom he would later have a son), found employment with the Salvation Army in 1897, and most importantly, gave his heart to Christ. It seemed that God was eager to bless the man who had so selflessly sacrificed for others.
Following his time with the Salvation Army, Bennard was ordained as a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. His passion for spreading the gospel led him to become a distinguished Holiness evangelist, often collaborating with D. Willia Caffray. His ministry took him extensively throughout Michigan and New York, where his powerful preaching and evident devotion to Christ touched countless lives.
As Bennard stepped into ministry, he discovered a new passion: writing hymns. Melodies and verses flowed from his pen, but one song in particular would prove to be his magnum opus. In the quiet town of Albion, Michigan, at 1101 East Michigan Avenue, a simple tune took root in Bennard’s mind. But the lyrics, like elusive fireflies, danced just out of reach.
For months, Bennard grappled with the song, unable to find the words to match the melody. All he could settle on was a single line: “I will cherish the old rugged cross.” The hymn began to take shape in Albion, with portions coming to him in Marion, Michigan. But the creative process stalled until a particularly discouraging incident where youths heckled him during a revival meeting. This experience drove him to reflect more deeply on the significance of Christ’s suffering.
It wasn’t until a preaching tour across Michigan, where Bennard’s appreciation for Christ’s sacrifice was rekindled, that the lyrics finally fell into place. With renewed inspiration, he penned the words that would touch hearts for generations to come.
“The inspiration came to me one day in 1913,” Bennard later recalled. “I began to write ‘The Old Rugged Cross.’ I composed the melody first. The words that I first wrote were imperfect. The words of the finished hymn were put into my heart in answer to my own need.”
Bennard completed the hymn in 1913 while staying at the parsonage of Reverend and Mrs. Leroy O. Bostwick in Pokagon, Michigan. It was there, at the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon, that he performed the hymn publicly for the first time on June 7, 1913. The church choir joined him, singing from his penciled notes. Mrs. Bostwick, deeply moved by the hymn, paid for the printing plates to have it published.
The hymn’s journey had only begun. Bennard sent a manuscript copy to Charles Gabriel, a prominent gospel hymn composer of the time. After reviewing it, Gabriel prophetically told Bennard, “You will certainly hear from this song.” Gabriel’s words proved remarkably accurate when, in 1938, a national radio network poll determined that “The Old Rugged Cross” was America’s favorite song.
The birth of “The Old Rugged Cross” is an example of Bennard’s unwavering spirit. Just as he persevered in the coal mines for the sake of his family, he pressed on in crafting this hymn, refusing to let a moment of divine inspiration slip away. And because of his faithfulness, countless souls have been stirred by the simple, profound message of the cross.
Bennard continued to minister for forty more years after writing his most famous hymn. During this time, he composed over 350 other hymns, including “Have Thy Way, Lord,” “Pentecostal Fire Is Falling,” and “Love Never Faileth.” His work came during a pivotal time when liberalism and its questioning of core Christian doctrines was on the rise in American churches. Through his music and preaching, Bennard stood firmly for traditional Christian faith, particularly within the Holiness movement.
Though George Bennard’s life was marked by hardship and struggle, his legacy is one of hope and triumph. He spent his final years near Reed City, Michigan, where the Chamber of Commerce erected a twelve-foot cross near his home with the words “The Old Rugged Cross – Home of George Bennard, composer of this beloved hymn.” Today, Reed City maintains the Old Rugged Cross Historical Museum dedicated to preserving his life and ministry.
In the enduring strains of “The Old Rugged Cross,” we hear the voice of a man who discovered that life’s greatest treasures often lie on the other side of our greatest trials. May his story inspire us to persevere, to trust, and to cherish the old rugged cross, where our Savior’s love conquered all.
