Worthy of Worship

by Harry Eskew

“Worthy of Worship,” among the most popular of the new hymns introduced in the 1991

Baptist Hymnal. is the work of two members of the hymnal committee who were also

serving at the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay), Terry W. York and L. Mark

Blankenship. Terry York (b. Atchison, KS, 1949) wrote the words and Mark

Blankenship (b. Chicago, 1943) composed the tune, named JUDSON after Judson Baptist

Church in Nashville where they were then members.

Terry York recalls driving home late one evening in Nashville traffic and the words of

phrases of the hymn coming suddenly to his mind. He kept repeating these words until

he arrived home, where he immediately wrote them on a grocery list. After he shared

them with Mark, Terry asked him, “Do you think these words sing?” A few days later

Mark had composed the tune and they added the new hymn to an Easter musical they had

written, Praise the Risen Savior,” published in 1988 by the Board’s Van Ness Press.

They weren’t sure just how well their hymn would be received until it was approved by

the 1991 Baptist Hymnal Committee. Prior to the publication of the hymnal, “Worthy of

Worship” was included in a pamphlet of new hymns and introduced to enthusiastic

congregations during church music conferences at Ridgecrest and Glorieta.

Mark Blankenship became the director of the Church Music Department at the Sunday

School Board and is now retired and living at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Terry

York currently serves on the faculty of the George Truett Seminary, Baylor University,

Waco, Texas.

Terry York recalls one especially inspiring occasion when he heard their hymn sung

several years ago in Malaysia at the World Association of Chinese Church Musicians.

Shortly before he was to speak at this conference in Malaysia, a children’s choir from

mainland China sang “Worthy of Worship” from memory in Chinese! Terry was so

moved he could hardly begin his speech.

“Worthy of Worship” is not only for singing It is a hymn rich in theology that is well

worth studying. How should we worship God? (See stanza 2) What are eleven different

names for God? (See stanza 3). Although “Worthy of Worship” is rich in theology, it is

simple enough to be sung by children, as in the Chinese Children’s Choir Terry York

heard in Malaysia.

Worthy of Worship

Worthy of worship, worthy of praise, worthy of honor and glory;

Worthy of all the glad songs we can sing, worthy of all of the off’rings we bring.

Worthy of rev ‘rence, worthy of fear, worthy of love and devotion;

Worthy of bowing and bending of knees, worthy of all this and added to these…

Almighty Father, Master and Lord, King of all kings and Redeemer,

Wonderful Counselor, Comforter, Friend, Savior and Source of our life without end.

Chorus

You are worthy, Father, Creator.

You are worthy, Savior, Sustainer.

You are worthy, worthy and wonderful;

Worthy of worship and praise.

Words: Terry W. York

Music: Mark Blankenship

Music © Copyright 1988 McKinney Music, Inc. (BMI) Words © Copyright 1988 Van

Ness Press, Inc. (ASCAP)

All rights reserved Distributed by Genevox Music Group.

Used by Permission CCLI #859858

To view the music or hear this anthem sung, go to http://www.lifewayworship.com.