Evangelicals have been great hymn writers, and our hymn books are full of treasures, and often there is a hymn for whatever occasion arises. But sometimes you can’t find one, or you have an itch to write one yourself. I’m no musician, so I can’t compose a tune, but I can take a hymn tune I like and write a new hymn to fit the tune and to fit the occasion. I began by writing hymns for our Maundy Thursday service, since a) there did not seem to be many good existing hymns in the hymn books I have for this annual focus on the Last Supper, and b) the service tends to be a smaller one and so I’m not inflicting my amateur efforts on too many people. Using a well-known tune makes it simple to just place the hymn in the service and let everyone have a go at it.
When I preached through Romans 8 I had the urge to write a hymn that reflected that wonderful chapter of Scripture. I wrote one that expanded to 5 verses, but the beauty was that you could sing a shortened version with whichever middle verse(s) were most appropriate to the sermon text that Sunday (vv 1, 2 and 5 week one; vv 1,3 and 5 week 2 etc). I got in the groove and wrote another whole hymn for Romans 8:18-27.
This time I shyly inflicted the new hymns on the Sunday congregation. Some people noticed my name attached to the lyrics and said encouraging things about the hymn to me, how they enjoyed the words and the way they resounded the scripture text and the sermon themes.
Anyway, now I’m mentioning these efforts here, in case a) you find these hymn words useful yourself, and b) in case it is time for more new evangelical hymn writing to bubble up. None of this is to deprecate the many excellent modern church songs we so enjoy, but there’s lots to love about the hymn tunes we know well (or would be well served to learn).
That said, there’s an awful danger of producing bad hymns. Bad grammar, bad rhymes, a bad fit between the stresses in the language of the lyrics and the rhythm of the tune, bad theology, bad poetry: why torture your poor church? If you wish to have a go, don’t imagine that a few polite compliments after the service are an endorsement of real talent. Take your time and write and re-write.
Reflect on, shape, craft, tweak and polish your hymns, and ideally, take thoughtful criticism as a needful part of the process if you are going to do this more than once or twice. I gave what I thought were my better efforts to the Essentials editors, and here follow lyrics they think are at least fit to print here as grist for your mill. All the defects of these hymns remain mine!
A hymn for Maundy Thursday
Tune: Hanover (O Worship the King, All Glorious Above)
1. Our Lord took the bread
and broke it in two.
He gave us his word:
‘My body, for you.’
This sign of the life he gave up on the tree
I eat in remembrance that he died for me.
2. Then taking the cup,
he spoke of his blood:
the new covenant
between us and God:
our faults cast away and remembered no more;
his mercy to sinners condemned by his law.
3. Together we share
the loaf that is one;
together we drink
the cup of the Son.
Till he comes in glory, his death we proclaim:
O Lord, how you’ve loved us, all praise to your Name!
Hymn for Romans 8
Tune: Morning Light (Stand Up Stand Up for Jesus)
1. Set free from sin and death by
your risen Son our king,
with joy we lift our hearts up
as with glad tongues we sing
of weakness given strength through
the Spirit’s living breath,
and progress in the warfare
with darkness, sin and death.
2. Let hard hearts now be softened;
recall our stray desire;
make real your reign of goodness,
our righteousness inspire!
According to the Spirit
direct our lifelong way
in what is true and holy
as day succeeds to day.
3. O God, who raised Christ Jesus,
we would your children be!
Grant us your Holy Spirit;
receive us tenderly.
In all our present sufferings,
our bondage to decay,
light hope for unseen glories;
our inward groans allay.
4. For all you call, who love you,
you work in all for good;
how gracious is your purpose,
Christ’s gift of brotherhood!
Our Jesus shall be first of
a glorious family;
the end of a salvation
ordained eternally.
5. The Son through whom we conquer
now speaks for us above;
nor trouble, sword, nor danger
can keep from us his love.
Nor height, nor depth, nor powers
unsay his blood-bought word;
we stand inseparate from
God’s love in Christ our Lord!
Hymn for Romans 8:18-27
Tune: Woodlands (Tell Out My Soul)
1. ‘Let there be light!’ rang out God’s first command
Then day and night were named and by God’s hand
Sky, land and seas were filled with what he made
His glory in life’s teeming kinds displayed.
2. But now she groans in bondage to decay
The ground is cursed; and for our sin must stay
In labour pains, her state bound up with ours
Until God’s final purpose fully flowers.
3. O haste the day, when creatures are redeemed
Freed by the grace that through one man has streamed
which overflows from every child of God
To make life whole and break death’s cruel rod.
4. When Jesus Christ shall bring his liberty
To winged bird, to graceful, ancient tree
Then life shall live, and beauty overwhelm
All shall be new in God’s created realm.
5. Until that time, O Spirit, when we pray,
Cry out for us who walk this earthly way
Direct our hearts into the hope we share
With eager, longing creatures everywhere.
A Hymn for St Edmund’s Day
Tune: St Denio (Immortal, invisible God only wise)
I became rector of a church that observed its patronal festival, with certain hymns sung on the day. I wanted to write a better option. St Edmund was a royal martyr, whose death is rich in legend and scant in history. This hymn involves martyrs and royalty, and thus seeks to have a figure like St Edmund in the background, although unnamed.
1. Brute powers be warned that you must bow the knee:
One king is exalted by heaven’s decree!
The Son’s rule shall reach the horizon’s far rim
and blessed are those who take refuge in him.
2. All we who in Jesus taste God’s truth and grace
are called to bear witness, in trials to keep faith.
Both poor folk and kings have loved Christ more than life
and known him to stand by their side through their strife.
3. All struggle and clash will give way to Christ’s peace
when he keeps his word to the great and the least
and vindicates those who stake all on his love
and gifts them the white robes of Zion above.
4. Should those who surround us press us to deny;
Lord, fill us with courage their cause to defy,
that in resurrection our place may be found
with those royal martyrs whom Jesus will crown.
A Hymn for Exodus 20
Tune: Moscow/Italian Hymn (Lord, your almighty word) Compare Exodus 19-20, Psalm 15, Hebrews 12
1. Once the great God of might
came down on Sinai’s height
and spoke ten words:
holy commandments for
Israel to know his law,
led by his thunderous roar,
‘I am the Lord’
2. Who on God’s mount can dwell?
Those who do all things well,
fearing the Lord:
who take the faithful part,
dead to the tempter’s art,
who with the pure of heart
draw near to God.
3. What hope for us who fall,
who do not heed God’s call
and dread his voice?
Praise Christ whose sprinkled blood
reconciles us to God;
we hear that better word,
‘Welcome, beloved.’
4. As we, amidst the throng,
soar on angelic song
to Zion’s hill,
give us Christ’s holiness,
which is our needful dress
in the rejoicing press
‘round you, O Lord.
A Hymn for Trinity Sunday
Tune: Ebenezer.
1. ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord of hosts!’
cry the seraphim on high.
Burning in bright exultation
they the Father magnify.
Uncreated, unbegotten,
depthless fount of deity,
seated on your throne in heaven,
in your love remember me.
2. ‘Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb!’
flights of angels ever sing,
‘to have power, wisdom, honour.’
Let his praises ever ring!
Word and image of the Father,
Son from all eternity;
slain that we might have salvation,
in your grace remember me.
3. Glory, glory, glory, glory be;
glory be to God above.
By his Spirit he has set us free—
poured into our lives his love!
From the Father’s heart proceeding;
gift of Christ the Risen Son;
seal and sign of our adoption,
dwell in us and make us one!
4. Hail eternal, living Trinity,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost;
consubstantial mutuality,
hymned by all the heavenly host!
Shine your light into our darkness,
from the depths your people raise,
so that, rid of mortal weakness,
we may ever sing your praise.
Ben Underwood is Rector of St Edmund’s Wembley, WA
* The lyrics in this article are © 2025 Ben Underwood. If you would like to use them, please contact him using