George Bennard, born in 1873, was a hymn writer and preacher. He dedicated his life to both music and ministry, writing over 300 hymns and gospel songs. His music came from his deep faith and brought ...

The Gaither Vocal Band is a well-known Southern Gospel group, famous for its strong harmonies and uplifting music. Started in 1980 by Bill Gaither, the band has been a key part of Christian music for ...

When polls are taken to determine the most popular American hymns, invariably near the top of the list is "The Old Rugged Cross." It has been the most favored of the approximate 300 songs written by ...

A few years ago, I was on a certain country road in the farmland outside of Albia, Iowa. A farmer friend of mine told me that Pastor George Bennard, the composer of the hymn “The Old Rugged Cross,” ...

As Lent progresses to Easter, the “Old Rugged Cross” crucifix comes to mind. It stands 22 feet high and can be seen next to a pool, traveling east on East Midlothian Boulevard at Lake Park Cemetery ...

Lake Park Cemetery Trustee Mark Luke, left, stands with Dr. Charles Wilkins, a newspaper letter writer who wrote about the Gospel hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” and its Youngstown native author — the Rev ...

For nearly a century, Christians of all stripes have been raising “The Old Rugged Cross” as a musical standard. Many know the composer was a man named George Bennard. Few, however, realize that his ...