Rock Of Ages

The lyrics for this hymn was written by Augustus M. Toplady in the year 1763 and who lived during the period from 1740-1778. He was born at Farnham, England on November 4, 1740. Toplady was a priest in the village of Blagdon. The hymn was published in 1775 in the publication "The Gospel Magazine". Tradition has it that the Reverend was traveling along a gorge of Burrington Combe in the hills of Mendip in England when he was overtaken by a storm and he took shelter in a fissure in the gorge.  It seems that he scribbled the initial lyrics on a playing card. This fissure is now marked as the "Rock of Ages", both on some maps and on the rock itself.
The tune for the lyrics was set by a Thomas Hastings who was born on October 15, 1784 at Washington, Connecticut and he composed the tune in 1830.
The hymn was a favorite of Prince Albert who requested that it be played on his deathbed as did the Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart. The hymn was also played during the funeral of William E. Gladstone.
Traditionally, this hymn has been ranked as one of the most popular hymns ever written.
The lyrics are given below.
 
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee!
Let the Water and the Blood,
From thy riven Side which flow'd,
Be of Sin the double Cure,
Cleanse me from its Guilt and Pow'r.

Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill thy Law's demands:
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for Sin could not atone:
Thou must save, and Thou alone!

Nothing in my hand I bring;
Simply to thy Cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for Dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly :
Wash me, Saviour, or I die!

Whilst I draw this fleeting breath—
When my eye-strings break in death—
When I soar through tracts unknown—
See Thee on thy Judgment-Throne—
Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee !