Who Wrote "Here I Am to Worship"? The Story Behind Tim Hughes' Song
October 26, 2026
"Here I Am to Worship" is one of those songs that many churchgoers know by heart without knowing who wrote it. It has been sung in churches of almost every tradition since the early 2000s.
Who wrote "Here I Am to Worship"?
The song was written by Tim Hughes, an English worship leader and songwriter. He wrote it around the turn of the millennium, while he was in his early twenties and leading worship among young people in the UK.
When was it released?
It became the title track of Tim Hughes' 2001 album Here I Am to Worship. Artists across the world went on to record it, and it became one of the most widely sung worship songs of the 2000s.
What is the song about?
The song follows the story of Jesus: the Light coming into the darkness, the King choosing humility, and the cross where He bore our sin. Its response is simple — because of who He is and what He has done, we come to bow down and worship. That pairing of truth and response is what makes the song so useful on a Sunday.
Why it still works today
The verses tell a story and the chorus gives everyone something to sing back. The range is friendly for most voices, and the chords are simple enough for a beginner guitarist. It shows that a worship song does not need to be complicated to last.
What songwriters can learn
Tim Hughes wrote it while serving a local group of worshippers, not chasing a hit. At CROSS & CROWN we write the same way, for the church in front of us. Hear the result on our new album Look Up, on our music page.