George Bennard (February 4, 1873 – October 10, 1958) was an American hymn composer and preacher. He is best known for composing the famous hymn, "

The Old Rugged Cross "The Old Rugged Cross" is a popular hymn written in 1912 by American evangelist and song-leader George Bennard (1873–1958). History George Bennard was a native of Youngstown, Ohio, but was reared in Iowa. After his conversion in a Salvation ...

Early years

Bennard was born in the coal-mining and iron-production town of

Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio, and the largest city and county seat of Mahoning County, Ohio, Mahoning County. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Youngstown had a city population of 60,068. It is a principal city of ...

. When he was still a child, his parents relocated the family to Albion, Michigan. Some time later, they moved again to

Lucas, Iowa Lucas is a city in Lucas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 172 at the time of the 2020 census. History The Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company established a station at Lucas in 1866, named after Lucas County and Rob ...

. Although the young Bennard aspired to become a Christian evangelist, he was compelled to support his mother and sisters after his father died suddenly.

Evangelical and musical careers

After marrying, Bennard became active in the Salvation Army and preached throughout the United States and Canada. He was ordained as a minister in the

Methodist Episcopal Church The Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC) was the oldest and largest Methodist denomination in the United States from its founding in 1784 until 1939. It was also the first religious denomination in the US to organize itself on a national basis. In ...

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He spent much of his life in

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

and

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

. As a well-regarded author of Christian hymns, his most famous work is "

". He wrote ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ at Albion College, in Albion, Michigan, at 1101 East Michigan Avenue, a building that later became the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house. It has since been torn down, but a historical marker is on the site. Bennard retired to

Reed City, Michigan Reed City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,425 at the 2010 census. It is located in southwestern Osceola County and is the county seat. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total ar ...

, and the town maintains a museum dedicated to his life and ministry.Reed City Museum
. A memorial has also been created in Youngstown at Lake Park Cemetery
"Old Rugged Cross part of Youngstown history."
He died in

, where the local

Chamber of Commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to ad ...

erected a cross near his home. Bennard is buried at

Inglewood Park Cemetery Inglewood Park Cemetery, 720 East Florence Avenue in Inglewood, California, was founded in 1905. A number of notable people, including entertainment and sports personalities, have been interred or entombed there. History The proposed est ...

in Inglewood,

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

References

External links

Historical Albion Michigan
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennard, George 1873 births 1958 deaths American male composers American composers American Methodist clergy People from Reed City, Michigan Musicians from Youngstown, Ohio Burials at Inglewood Park Cemetery People from Albia, Iowa People from Lucas County, Iowa