"Crying in the Chapel" is a song written by Artie Glenn for his son Darrell to sing. According to Cliff Glenn, Artie Glenn's oldest grandson, Artie had written the song in 1951 but left it in a drawer for two years, until Darrell recorded it while still in high school in 1953, along with Artie's band the Rhythm Riders. The song was rejected by Hill and Range Songs and Acuff-Rose Music. The song was eventually published by Valley Publishers which also released the single featuring Darrell Glenn. It became a local hit and then it went nationwide. The original version of the song (Valley V-11) was issued in June 1953. Darrell Glenn's original recording reached number one on the Cash Box chart (where all versions were amalgamated) and number six on Billboard. Glenn's version also hit number six on the Billboard pop singles chart and number four on the Billboard country and western chart, Rex Allen's number eight, The Orioles' number 11, Ella Fitzgerald number 15, and Art Lund reached number 23. Lee Lawrence took his version to number 7 in the United Kingdom.

June Valli recorded the song with an orchestra directed by Joe Reisman in New York City on June 11, 1953. RCA Victor Records released it as a single in the U.S. (catalog umber 20–5368). and elsewhere by EMI on the His Master's Voice label (catalog number B. 10568). This was the most successful pop version on the Billboard charts, at that time, reaching number four after charting for 17 weeks beginning August 1, 1953.