Posted by
RuralAuthorBrendaJErvin on Friday, March 13, 2009 9:33:50 PM
Barns were used for church services for worship and revivals in the early days of our nation. During the Civil War in 1862, a large hops barn was built in rural farming community of Pokegon, Michigan. Later in 1876 it was sold to a local Methodist Episcopal Church congregation. Today this converted barn-church is designated by the state of Michigan as the historic site where where one of Christianity’s most beloved hymns, The Old Rugged Cross by evangelist and songwriter, George Bennard. was first performed.
In January 1913, Pokegon Methodist Episcopal Pastor, Leroy O. Bostwick, invited his friend George Bennard to help him with revival services he was conducting. Bennard was going through a deep spiritual struggle that according to records was never revealed. He obtained comfort from the scriptures in the Bible from the suffering on the cross. Although Bennard actually began to pen his song while living in Albion, Michigan it was during the 1913 Pokegon Methodist Episcopal revival where he drew inspiration from this spiritual experience and completed the lines while staying at the parsonage. According to Christian History International he told his friend, "I sat down and immediately was able to rewrite the stanzas of the song without so much as one word failing to fall into place. I called in my wife, took out my guitar, and sang the completed song to her. She was thrilled!" On June 7, 1913, Bennard introduced his song, The Old Rugged Cross to worshippers attending the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Born on February 4, 1873 in Youngstown, Ohio, George Bennard felt a definite calling to serve God at an early age. After his father died when he was sixteen years old Bennard worked underground as a coal miner to support the family. Later on, he became a Salvation Army officer in Illinois, and preached in Canada and the United States. It was by invitation from the pastor of the small Pokegon community, named for native Chief Pokegon, that Bennard felt directed to play his new song for the congregation. The obscure, sacred church barn measuring 28-ft by 60-ft. was sold to a local farmer in 1915. Although the Old Rugged Cross hymn became known around the world, the church where it was first played was privately owned and throughout the years fell into disrepair. Bennard continued to preach and write more songs, but none of his songs were as well known as The Old Rugged Cross. Around 1997, Bob and Molly Schaffer purchased the historic church and established The Old Rugged Cross Foundation, Inc. The Old Rugged Cross and its legacy is being preserved by a group of non-denominational volunteers called The Old Rugged Cross Foundation, Inc
After hiring architect, Dr. Stanley Bell of Berrien Springs, Michigan, reconstruction efforts began in September of 2000 and plans got under way to restore the old church. Every year the foundation celebrates the endearing hymn numbered among the top ten songs of Christianity that stands next to the beautiful Old Rugged Cross Memorial Gardens. Marta Dodd, descendant of one of the violinists that accompanied Bennard’s song and current board member of The Old Rugged Cross Foundation, Inc. says, “Bennard sold the rights to "The Old Rugged Cross" to gospel music publisher Homer Rodeheaver Co. a company for which he wrote many hymns.” American Evangelist Billy Sunday used the hymn in his crusades increasing the exposure of the song. The Old Rugged Cross eventually was designated as one of the top ten songs in Christian Musical History. Robert Cushman Hayes reports songbook editors have designated it as the most popular of all twentieth-century religious songs. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Crusade song leader, George Beverly Shea, who has sung the beloved hymn over his 60-plus year ministry says it was one of the first songs he learned as a young boy growing up in Canada. In a recent interview by Christian songwriter and producer Bill Gaither who documented Shea's life, George Beverly Shea recalled how his mother was asked to play a "new" hymn when he was a child and that song was "The Old Rugged Cross."
Near Reed City, the last home of George Bennard before his passing in 1958, the Chamber of Commerce erected a large cross to commemorate his noted hymn in 1954. Another cross was placed on a hill on the outskirts of Jackson County community called Grass Lakes. The Old Rugged Cross Museum of Reed City is open to the public preserving numerous artifacts of the life of George Bennard and his ageless song beloved by millions around the world. For more information contact: www.oldruggedcrossfoundation.
Brenda Ervin is an author and preservationist specializing in rural America and written extensively about The Old Rugged Cross church featuring it in a forthcoming book: "Country Faith: Rural America Stories of Faith from Forty of the Most Inspirational People of Our Time," to be released by Barn Door Publishing in 2009.
The Old Rugged Cross Foundation, Inc., web site: www.oldruggedcross.org
“Volunteers racing to save birthplace of Old Rugged Cross” 9/21/00, World Faith News.org, Marta Dodd
Texas Baptists Top Tunes, Bread On The Water Magazine by June Cunningham source: International Christian Ministries Magazine “The Answer”,
“The Old Rugged Cross” by Robert Cushman Hayes