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United Methodist Hymnal
“The Old Rugged Cross” is a beloved 20th-century Christian hymn written and composed by George Bennard in 1912 and 1913. Inspired by the author’s deep reflection on the theological meaning of Christ’s suffering, the lyrics focus on the themes of sacrifice, redemption, and ultimate victory. The completed version of the hymn debuted publicly on June 7, 1913, in Pokagon, Michigan, where a five-person choir performed it accompanied by a guitar at the First Methodist Episcopal Church—a congregation meeting in a converted hops barn. Curiously, Bennard struggled for months to finish the lyrics after composing the melody, and he eventually sold the publishing rights for just $500 to a prominent evangelist who popularized it nationwide. Today, it remains a timeless country-gospel classic frequently performed at church services and memorials.
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