He has been a licensed minster for nearly forty years and resides in East Tennessee. Back in 1913, George Bennard was struggling with a problem that caused him much suffering. There it was introduced before a large convention and soon it became extremely popular throughout the country. This chart is based on the Dixie Power Trio recording of the hymn from their "Ain't My Fault" CD. [3] In his Historical Dictionary of the Holiness Movement, Dr. William C. Kostlevy indicates that Rev. Stephen Flick heads Christian Heritage Fellowship, an organization dedicated to reclaiming America’s Christian Heritage and celebrating the life-changing influence of the Gospel around the world. Chicago, Illinois: The Rodeheaver Company, 1933. He spent much of his life in Michigan and Wisconsin. Song: God is good All the time Artist: Don Moen Album: Rivers of Joy Released: 1995. Words & Music: George Bennard, 1913 ( pdf nwc). In 1938, a poll by a national radio network determined that Bennard’s hymn was America’s most favorite song. British television dramatist Dennis Potter used the gospel song prominently in several of his plays, most notably Pennies from Heaven (1978); and the song also played a major part in "Gridlock" (2007), an episode of the long-running sci-fi drama series Doctor Who. Most who have studied the life of Rev. The words of the finished hymn were put into my heart in answer to my own need. George Bennard was a native of Youngstown, Ohio, but was reared in Iowa. This is the link: http://www.thecross-photo.com/The_Old_Rugged_Cross.htm, March 19, 2003. For the Jo Stafford and Gordon Macrae album, see, Old Rugged Cross (Stafford and Macrae album), First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon, The Story of the Old Rugged Cross at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, "Old Rugged Cross Part of Youngstown History", "'The Old Rugged Cross' Written in Albion", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Old_Rugged_Cross&oldid=992423209, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 5 December 2020, at 05:11. I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown." Zack Smith Price: $10 Transposed parts can be ordered. For some time “The Old Rugged Cross” was in composition in the heart and mind of Rev. Kimball centered the record label of The Old Rugged Cross, as published by Victor, on the circle in the picture, complete with the trademark of Nipper (His Master's Voice). Not until the early twentieth century was this term mixed with excesses not advocated by Wesley and historic Methodism. Their former church, nostalgically remembered as “The Original Old Rugged Cross Church” was subsequently sold to a local farmer, and for nearly eighty-three years, the once-sacred edifice was used as a barn, housing farm animals and materials. A free online library of books, music, magazines, and more. As a Methodist evangelist, 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 wrote and composed that seminal hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” in 1912 after he felt his Christian religion was mocked during a revival meeting he was heading. 1953). Chicago, Illinois: The Rodeheaver Company, 1926. "The Old Rugged Cross" has been a country gospel favorite ever since it became the title song of Ernest Tubb's 1952 gospel album; it has been performed by some of the twentieth century's most important recording artists, including Al Green, Andy Griffith, Anne Murray, Brad Paisley, Chet Atkins, John Berry, Floyd Cramer, George Jones, Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash and June Carter, Kevin Max, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Merle Haggard, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Ray Price, Ricky Van Shelton, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans,[9] The Oak Ridge Boys, The Statler Brothers, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, George Beverly Shea and John Prine on the 2007 CD "Standard Songs for Average People" with Mac Wiseman. Following the writing of “The Old Rugged Cross,” Bennard ministered an additional forty years. During this period, he wrote additional gospel hymns, numbering more than 350, including “Have Thy Way, Lord,”[3] “Pentecostal Fire Is Falling,” and “Love Never Faileth.” But none of his subsequent hymns ever received the wide public acclaim, which was given to his first hymn. Son of George and Margaret (Russell) Bennard. Fred Smith that he had begun to write “The Old Rugged Cross” in Marion, Michigan. In Series 4 Episode 5 of Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, "The Old Rugged Cross" is sung by Hetty (played by Patricia Routledge) and a local male voice choir. Only a small portion of the hymn came to mind: “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross . We are a user supported non-profit organization. Copyright © 2021 Christian Heritage Fellowship, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Like many other songs of this era (and genre), The Old Rugged Cross is replete with both the Christian truth found in the pages of God’s Word, as well as the Christian experience it should produce. He is best known for composing the famous hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross". Rev. The Old Rugged Cross. Catalog SKU number of the notation is 156550. Rev. The style of the score is Gospel. In early 2009, the song was covered by Ronnie Milsap on his gospel album Then Sings My Soul. ________. After his conversion in a Salvation Army meeting, he and his wife became brigade leaders before leaving the organization for the Methodist Church. "The Old Rugged Cross" is a popular hymn written in 1912 by evangelist and song-leader George Bennard (1873–1958). .” Here the hymn remained until some youths heckled him at one of the revivals he was preaching. Reverend Bennard was the author of well-loved hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” written in 1913. Bennard wrote, “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” Thanks to the watchful eye of one of our readers, Mrs. Joyce Wright of Wichita, Kansas, this has been corrected, crediting Rev. In the mid-twentieth century, it was one of the leading holiness institutions. ________. A Mighty Revival. Your small gift is tax-deductible and will go a long way to help us meet our operating budget — and it is vital, because, "...In times of impending calamity and distress; when the liberties of America are imminently endangered by the secret machinations and open assaults of an insidious and vindictive administration, it becomes the indispensable duty of these hitherto free and happy colonies, with true penitence of heart, and the most reverent devotion, publicly to acknowledge the over ruling providence of God; to confess and deplore our offenses against him; and to supplicate his interposition for averting the threatened danger, and prospering our strenuous efforts in the cause of freedom, virtue, and posterity...". Song: Heart of Worship Artist: Matt Redman Featured artist: Martin Smith Album: Revival Generation: I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever Released: 1999 George Bennard (February 4, 1873 – October 10, 1958) was an American hymn composer and preacher. 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