Rock of Ages (Christian hymn)

Augustus Toplady

The text of this hymn from Toplady's July 1776 'alt' version has been substantially edited since its publication by different denominations over the years creating a number of versions of the hymn text used by different churches around the world.

An example of an edit made to Toplady's text is: "When my eyes shall close in death" was originally written as "When my eye-strings break in death".[4]

Not withstanding the bitter pamphlet war between Augustus Toplady and John Wesley over the correctness of Calvinist/Reformed theology versus Arminian theology,[5] there has been speculation by some, that although Toplady was a Calvinist, the edited version of the words, "Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath, and make me pure," suggest he agreed with the teachings of the Methodist preacher under whom he received his religious conversion, and of his contemporary, John Wesley, who taught the "double cure", in which a sinner is saved by the atonement of Jesus, and cleansed from inbred sin by the infilling of the Holy Spirit.[6] However, Toplady's own published 1776 hymn text, the version now referred to as 'alt', contains a variant different from Wesley's teachings and reads: "Be of sin the double cure, Save me from its guilt and power".[7]

"Rock of Ages" is usually sung to the hymn tune TOPLADY by Thomas Hastings as revised by Lowell Mason or REDHEAD 76, also called PETRA (after Peter being referred to as the Rock by Christ), by Richard Redhead. TOPLADY is most typical in the United States and REDHEAD 76 in the United Kingdom, although both tunes circulate in the churches of both countries.

It is also sung to a number of additional tunes used in small numbers of hymnals. Perhaps the newest hymn tune for "Rock of Ages" is by James Ward included in the New City Fellowship's hymnal.[8]

• 1914 Alma Gluck and Louise Homer – a popular version on the Victor label.[12]
• 1949 Bing Crosby recorded it on 6 May 1949 for Decca Records[13] and it was included in his album Beloved Hymns.
• 1950 Jo Stafford with the Ravenscroft Quartet. Recorded 2 June 1950. Issued October 1950. Songs of Faith Capitol CC-9014.[14]
• 1950 Perry Como recorded it 29 June 1950 and included in the 1952 EP Favorite Songs of Worship.[15]
• 1959 Pat Boone for his album He Leadeth Me.[16]
• 1959 Rosemary Clooney included it in her album Hymns from the Heart.[17]

The hymn was a favourite of Prince Albert, who asked it to be played to him on his deathbed, as did Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart. It was also played at the funeral of William Gladstone.[18]

In his book Hymns That Have Helped, W. T. Stead reported "when the SS London went down in the Bay of Biscay, 11 January 1866, the last thing which the last man who left the ship heard as the boat pushed off from the doomed vessel was the voices of the passengers singing "Rock of Ages".[19]

This hymn was regarded as one of the Great Four Anglican Hymns of the 19th century.[20]

The hymn has appeared in other languages including German (as "Fels der Ewigkeit") and Swedish ("Klippa, du som brast för mig").

There were also Latin translations by William Gladstone as "Jesus, pro me perforatus" and by Canadian linguist Silas Tertius Rand as "Rupes saeculorum, te."[21][22] On reading this version, Gladstone wrote to Rand, "I at once admit that your version is more exact than mine".[23]

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Rock of Ages

• The story behind "Rock of Ages" and a brief biography of Toplady
• An analysis of the poem and tune