Scholars suggest the story is likely apocryphal , emerging decades after his death. It was more likely a response to a hymn by his theological rivals, John and Charles Wesley.
1. The Theological Origin: A Hymn Born of Storms and Rivalry Rock of Ages
Popular myth says Toplady wrote the lyrics while sheltering in a rock cleft during a fierce thunderstorm in Burrington Combe, England. Scholars suggest the story is likely apocryphal ,
Fast-forward to the 1980s, when British rock band used the title for their hit single from the album Pyromania . "Rock of Ages" Review - The Independent Critic England. Fast-forward to the 1980s