Rock Of Ages

Album: Sings America's Favorite Hymns (1775)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This timeless hymn was written by the Anglican curate, Reverend Augustus Toplady (1740-1778) after taking a walk at Burrington Combe, a steep limestone valley with many caves in Somerset, South West England. A mighty thunderstorm blew up and the curate found an opening in an immense granite rock, in which he sheltered from the storm. This inspired the imagery of Christ as a sheltering rock. The hymn was first published in the Gospel Magazine in 1775, some 12 years after Toplady wrote it.
  • Despite being converted under a Methodist evangelist while attending the University of Dublin, the Calvinist Toplady rejected Charles and John Wesleys' theology and waged a running battle with them through tracts, sermons, and even hymns. He later softened his stance a little and two years before he died of tuberculosis and overwork at the age of thirty-eight, Toplady published his own hymnal, in which this classic hymn and Charles Wesley's "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" were placed side by side.
  • The hymn was a favourite of Prince Albert, who asked it to be played to him on his deathbed, as did Confederate Genera J.E.B. Stuart. The British Prime Minister William Gladstone did a Latin translation 'Jesus, pro me perforatus' and it was later played at his funeral.
  • The hymn is usually sung to the tune of "Toplady" by the American composer Thomas Hastings (1784-1872).
  • Many gospel and inspirational artists have recorded versions of this hymn including Johnny Cash, Patti Page, Chris Rice and Mahalia Jackson.

Comments: 1

  • Annabelle from Eugene, OrThis hymn was allegedly a favorite of Mary Ann Cotton in her childhood days. In 1873, while a chaplain rang a single church bell at West Auckland Parish Church, Mary Ann sang it in her cell at Durham County Jail, shortly before being hanged in a botched execution by William Calcraft, for the crime of murder by arsenic poisoning of up to 21 members of her family.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.