Tim Hughes

Timothy David Llewelyn Hughes (born 23 July 1977) is a British worship leader, singer, songwriter, and Anglican priest. Formerly the director of worship at Holy Trinity Brompton, a large Anglican church in central London, he has since been ordained as a minister in the Church of England and appointed Vicar of St Luke's, Gas Street Birmingham. He leads Worship Central, an international worship training and resource centre. Hughes has written a number of songs that are sung worldwide, including the Dove Award-winning "Here I Am to Worship", "Happy Day", "Beautiful One", "Jesus Saves", "At Your Name", and "The Way".

Hughes, the son of an Anglican vicar, grew up in High Wycombe, before moving to Birmingham as a teenager when his father was appointed vicar of St John's Church, Harborne. He studied history at Sheffield University, graduating in 2000.

Hughes is married to Rachel and has four children.

Hughes began his music career in 1997, when he was invited by Mike Pilavachi to lead worship at a Soul Survivor festival.[citation needed ] After the departure of Matt Redman from Soul Survivor Watford Church, Hughes succeeded him as Worship Pastor. In 2005, he moved to Holy Trinity Brompton, an Anglican church in central London, as director of worship. In 2015, he and his family moved to Birmingham where they have launched and now head up Gas Street Church.

He is a member of Compassionart, a charity founded by musician Martin Smith, the front man of Delirious?.[citation needed ]

Hughes trained for ordination at St Mellitus College, a non-residential Anglican theological college in London. On 29 June 2013, he was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon by Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, during a service at St Paul's Cathedral, London. On 22 June 2014, he was ordained as a priest by Paul Williams, Bishop of Kensington, during a service at St Mary Abbots, Kensington.

From 2013 to 2015, Hughes served his curacy at Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) in the Diocese of London. In 2015, he was appointed priest-in-charge of St Luke's, Gas Street, Birmingham in the Diocese of Birmingham. This was a church plant from HTB, and involved the renovation and consecration of a derelict warehouse to use as a church for Hughes and his team. The church officially launched on 5 February 2016.

With Holy Trinity Brompton's associate director of worship, Al Gordon, Hughes established Worship Central, a worship training and resource centre, aiming to have an international impact.

Hughes' songs were published in the UK by Survivor Records and distributed globally by EMI CMG, a major music label documented as market share leader from 1998 to 2009. He is currently signed under Integrity Music.

Hughes has recorded and released six albums: Here I Am to Worship in 2001, When Silence Falls in 2004, Holding Nothing Back in 2007, Happy Day in 2009, Love Shine Through in 2011, and Pocketful of Faith in 2015.

Here I am to Worship Hughes' album, Here I Am to Worship was released in 2001. The album introduced the worship songs "Jesus, You Alone" and the Dove Award-winning song "Here I Am to Worship".[10] Both songs have become world-renowned worship anthems.[citation needed ]

When Silence Falls Released in 2004, When Silence Falls featured well-known tracks, "Beautiful One", "Consuming Fire", and "Whole World in His Hands". The bonus track on the album, "Saviour" featured the hip hop group 29th Chapter, from west London.

Holding Nothing Back Hughes' third album, Holding Nothing Back, was released on 3 April 2007, and includes songs like "Living for your glory", "The Highest and the Greatest", "God of Justice", "Everything", and "Happy Day". In 2007, prior to the recording of Holding Nothing Back, Christian Today interviewed Hughes, asking him, "Do you think any of the songs have the potential to become worldwide hits like some of your previous singles ("Here I am to Worship" and "Beautiful One")?" Hughes responded that what connected with people was often a surprise and hard to predict.[11][12]

Happy Day In July 2008, Hughes recorded a live album and DVD, Happy Day, at a Worship Central event held on 16 September 2008 at the Shepherds Bush Empire, London. The recording featured a mix of previously released material and brand new songs, including "Give us your courage". The album was released at the Worship Central Global Day on 14 March 2009, in London's Westminster Central Hall.[citation needed ]

Love Shine Through On 11 March 2011, a fourth studio album was released, Love Shine Through. The recording was produced by Martin Smith and featured musicians Marc James, Michael Guy Chislet and members of Northern Irish band, Rend Collective Experiment.[citation needed ]

Pocketful of Faith On 17 July 2015 Hughes released his fifth studio album, Pocketful of Faith. The album was produced by Nathan Nockels and includes songwriting collaborations with Martin Smith, Matt Redman, Reuben Morgan, Phil Wickham, Jonas Myrin and Tim's Worship Central teammates Nick Herbert, Luke Hellebronth and Ben Cantelon.

Hughes published Passion For Your Name in 2003, in which he gives his advice on many issues, including worship leading and songwriting.[citation needed ]

Hughes has published a book called Holding Nothing Back (the same name as his third album) and was interviewed by Premier.tv's Christian TV On Demand, to promote the book.[11][13]

In June 2017, he was awarded the Cranmer Award for Worship by the Archbishop of Canterbury "for his outstanding contribution to contemporary worship music".[14]