Towering O'er The Wrecks Of Time

"...and on this rock I will build My church,

and the all the powers of Hell will not prevail against it."

Matthew 16:18

The Cross stands above the charred ruins of  the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, France.

In the cross of Christ I glory,

Towering o'er the wrecks of time;

All the light of sacred story

Gathers round its head sublime.


When the woes of life o'ertake me-

Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,

Never shall the cross forsake me,

Lo! it glows with peace and joy.


When the sun of bliss is beaming

Light and love upon my way,

From the cross the radiance streaming

Adds more luster to the day.


Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,

By the cross are sanctified;

Peace is there that knows no measure,

Joys that through all time abide.



"In The Cross Of Christ I Glory"
John Bowring
(1792-1872)
English Hymnist


As one story goes, while John Bowring was serving as the 
 governor of Hong Kong , he paid a visit to nearby Macao,
 where he saw the ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral, which had been
gutted by fire in 1835.  Standing above the ruins he saw
that the church's cross was still standing.  He was later
inspired to write this famous hymn, although other sources
claim that the song was published a decade before the fire.

In the wake of the devastating fire which destroyed
 much of the beautiful, centuries-old Cathedral of
Notre Dame in Paris  France yesterday,
 the stirring words of this old hymn speak a powerful
 message of eternal hope and truth for all generations.