You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

The Open Gate

There is a gate that stands ajar, And through its portals gleaming

Author: Lydia Baxter (1874)
Tune: [There is a gate that stands ajar] (Vail)
Published in 222 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI, Recording

Representative Text

1 There is a gate that stands ajar,
And through its portals gleaming
A radiance from the cross afar,
The Savior’s love revealing.

Refrain:
O depth of mercy, can it be
That gate was left ajar for me?
For me, for me?
Was left ajar for me?

2 That gate ajar stands free for all
Who seek through it salvation;
The rich and poor, the great and small,
Of every tribe and nation. [Refrain]

3 Press onward, then, though foes may frown,
While mercy’s gate is open;
Accept the cross, and win the crown,
Love’s ever lasting token. [Refrain]

4 Beyond the river’s brink we’ll lay
The cross that here is given,
And bear the crown of life away,
And love Him more in heaven. [Refrain]



Source: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #259

Author: Lydia Baxter

Baxter, Lydia, an American Baptist, was b. at Petersburg, N. York, Sep. 2, 1800, married to Mr. Baxter, and d. in N. Y. June 22, 1874. In addition to her Gems by the Wayside, 1855, Mrs. Baxter contributed many hymns to collections for Sunday Schools, and Evangelistic Services. Of these, the following are the best known:— 1. Cast thy net again, my brother. Patient toil. Given in the Royal Diadem, N. Y., 1873. 2. Go, work in my vineyard. Duty. Also given in the Royal Diadem, 1873, and Mr. Sankey's S. & Solos, No. 4. 3. I'm kneeling, Lord, at mercy's gate. Lent. In Coronation Hymns, &c, N. Y., 1879. 4. I'm weary, I'm fainting, my day's work is done. Longing for rest. Royal Diadem. 1873. 5. In the fadeless s… Go to person page >

Notes

Hymnary Pro Subscribers
Access an additional article on the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology:
Hymnary Pro subscribers have full access to the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Get Hymnary Pro

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #1685
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
Small Church Music #5983
  • PDF Score (PDF)
Timeless Truths #204
  • The_Gate_Ajar_for_Me.pdf (PDF)
  • The_Gate_Ajar_for_Me.xml (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 13 of 13)
TextPage Scan

African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #259

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #538

Favorite Songs of the Church #558

Gospel Songs of Praise #11

Hymns of Dawn #291

Page Scan

Praise for the Lord (Expanded Edition) #661

Page Scan

Sacred Selections for the Church #533

Sacred Songs of the Church #494

Audio

Small Church Music #5983

Songs of Faith and Praise #336

Songs of the Church #173

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #1685

TextScoreAudio

Timeless Truths #204

Include 209 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.