The Old Rugged Cross

The Story Behind the Hymn

The hymn was written in 1912 by George Bennard, a Methodist evangelist. After going through a season of hardship and spiritual testing, Bennard found himself meditating deeply on the cross. Not just as a symbol, but as a personal reality — the place where Christ bore our sin and gave us new life.

He penned the lyrics over time while traveling and preaching, refining them during a revival in Michigan. The final version was first performed by a choir at a revival meeting, and the response was immediate. People were moved — not just by the melody, but by the raw devotion in the words. It was published shortly after and quickly became one of the most beloved hymns in America.

What Makes It Powerful

What sets this hymn apart is its honesty. It acknowledges that the cross was rugged, painful, and undeserved — and yet it calls it dear. There’s nothing polished or easy about that kind of faith. It’s the kind that looks at the cross and says, “I’ll cherish it.”

A verse that captures this beautifully is 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV):

He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

This hymn holds onto that truth. It’s not ashamed of the cross — it sees it as the doorway to glory, the place where the deepest love was shown.

My Violin Cover

When arranging “The Old Rugged Cross” for violin, I knew it had to carry a sense of both weight and tenderness. The melody moves slowly and simply, like someone remembering something sacred. I played it with a soft touch, letting the pauses speak as much as the notes.

With Violin Hymns, I always want the arrangement to serve the heart of the song — and this hymn is about reverence. It’s not showy. It’s personal.

Listen and Reflect

The video is below. As you listen, take a moment to remember what happened on that cross — and what it means for you today. There’s no need to dress it up. Just let the melody lead you to the foot of the cross, and be reminded why it still matters: I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.

Lyrics

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

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.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above

To bear it to dark Calv’ry.

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.

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,

A wondrous beauty I see;

For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

To pardon and sanctify me.

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.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,

Where His glory forever I’ll share.

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.

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