In 1913, Reverend George Bennard completed the final version of his beloved hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross" while staying in the parsonage of the Reverend and Mrs. Leroy O. Bostwick in Pokagon, Michigan.   He sang the final completed version for the first time in its entirety at a revival meeting in the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon and then had the choir sing it from his penciled notes.  Upon her request, Mrs. Bostwick was granted the privilege of paying for the plates to have the hymn printed.

    Rev. Bennard wrote many hymns during his lifetime. "The Old Rugged Cross," however, became his most famous one.  "On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross" was as far as he could get with the hymn until he was heckled by some youths during a revival meeting, after which the rest of the words began to flow.   Most sources say he wrote the first verse and the original version of the chorus in Albion, Michigan.  Rev. Bennard told his personal friend, and a director of our board, Rev. Fred Smith that he began writing the hymn in Marion, Michigan.   Additional verses were written as he traveled his itinerate circuit.  He made the final changes while staying with the Bostwicks, who had asked for his help with a two-week revival at the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon.  After many years of fruitful service as an evangelist and popular speaker, Rev. Bennard died in Reed City, Michigan on October 10, 1958.

    In 1915, the First Methodist Episcopal Church congregation moved across the street into the Baptist Church. Their old church, now known as "The Original Old Rugged Cross Church" was subsequently sold to a local farmer.  Privately owned for nearly eighty-three years, this church, once a sacred edifice, became a barn for housing farm animals and for storage.   Inspired by the thought of preserving the church behind the hymn, a dedicated Christian couple purchased the building and help formed The Old Rugged Cross Foundation for the purpose of raising money to restore and preserve the old church and its historic legacy.

    Hundreds of thousands around the world have been touched by the cross-centered message of this favorite hymn.  For years, visitors to the Original Old Rugged Cross Church left notes expressing concern over the deterioration of the old church.  The messages, however, have taken a more encouraging tone since the restoration process has begun.  People now send donations from states across the country and countries around the world.

    With your financial and prayer support the ORC Church,  the ORC Memorial Garden and the surrounding area will take on an even greater special spiritual significance to all visitors. This famous hymn belongs to you and to the whole world.   It is up to us -- God's people -- to preserve this historic legacy for generations to come.

Will you have a part in this venture for God?
Please Donate as the Lord leads you.

Donations may be sent to:

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PO Box 41

Niles, MI  49120

or

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Note:  

If you are a PayPal member, you can go to your account and donate to orcf@aol.com.  If you are not a  member of PayPal you can join at the above link.