If you’ve ever sat in a wooden pew on a Sunday morning while a mass choir began to sway, you know the feeling. It’s that wall of sound. That specific, vibrating energy that only happens when fifty voices hit a chord in perfect, gritty unison. Rev. Timothy Wright, often called the "Godfather of Gospel," was the undisputed king of that feeling.
His song "Enter His Gates" isn't just a track on an album; it’s basically the gold standard for call-and-response praise. People search for enter his gates timothy wright lyrics because they want to replicate that atmosphere in their own churches, but honestly, there is a lot more to this song than just memorizing the words. It’s about the "drive." It’s about the way the Brooklyn-born legend could take a simple scripture—Psalm 100:4—and turn it into a seven-minute marathon of joy.
The Lyrics: More Than Just Words
Most people think they know the lyrics by heart. It’s simple, right? "Enter His gates with thanksgiving, into His courts with praise." But if you’re looking for the full Rev. Timothy Wright experience, you have to account for the New York Fellowship Mass Choir’s specific phrasing. They don't just sing the words; they attack them.
The Core Structure:
(Enter His gates)
Enter His gates with thanksgiving.
(Into His courts)
Into His courts with praise.
(Be thankful)
Be thankful unto Him.
(Thankful unto Him)
Thankful unto Him.
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(And bless)
And bless-e-e-ess.
(His name)
His name.
That "bless-e-e-ess" part? That’s where the magic happens. In the 2007 recording from the album Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Wright stretches that syllable out, letting the tenors and altos climb until the room feels like it’s going to burst.
Why the "Drive" Section Matters
If you stop at the first verse, you’ve missed the point. About halfway through the track, the song shifts into what gospel musicians call "the drive." This is where the repetition kicks in. The lyrics pivot to:
- "We’ve come to praise His name" (Repeated 12x or more)
- Sopranos hitting a sharp "Halle!"
- Altos and Tenors answering with a deep "Hallelujah!"
It’s rhythmic. It’s hypnotic. You’ve probably seen choir directors on YouTube breaking down these specific harmonies because they are notoriously tight. Rev. Wright was a master of the "mass choir" sound—a style that feels huge but remains incredibly disciplined.
The Story Behind the Song
Timothy Wright didn't just wake up one day and decide to be a gospel star. He was a Brooklyn kid through and through. By age 12, he was already playing the piano at St. John’s Fire Baptized Holiness Church.
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By the time "Enter His Gates" became a staple in the mid-2000s, Wright had already spent decades as an anchor for the genre. He had worked with Rev. Isaac Douglas and even penned almost every song on the 1971 landmark album Let’s Go Higher.
What most people get wrong is thinking "Enter His Gates" was a solo effort. It wasn't. It was a collaboration with the N.Y. Fellowship Mass Choir. This was the same group that helped him land a Grammy nomination back in the 90s for Come Thou Almighty King. They had a chemistry that couldn't be faked. When you hear the ad-libs on the track—those gritty, raspy shouts from Wright—it’s a direct conversation between the pastor and his choir.
Tragedy and Legacy
It’s hard to talk about Rev. Timothy Wright’s music without mentioning the tragedy that cut his life short. In July 2008, while traveling back from a church convention, Wright was involved in a devastating car crash in Pennsylvania. The accident killed his wife, Betty, and his grandson, D.J.
Wright himself survived the initial crash but suffered a critical spinal cord injury. He passed away less than a year later, in April 2009.
This context changes how you hear the enter his gates timothy wright lyrics. When the choir sings "Be thankful unto Him," it’s not coming from a place of easy, breezy happiness. It’s coming from a tradition of "Sunday Morning Ready" faith—a faith that persists through unimaginable grief. That’s why his music feels so heavy and light at the same time.
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Why It Still Ranks in 2026
You might wonder why a song from 2007 is still a top search. Gospel music has a long memory. "Enter His Gates" has become a foundational "Processional" song.
- Accessibility: It’s easy for a new choir member to learn.
- The "Pocket": The rhythm is perfect for clapping or a slow "holy dance" step.
- Scriptural Integrity: It’s straight Bible.
Honestly, the song is a masterclass in tension and release. It starts controlled and ends in a full-blown explosion of "Hallelujah" chants.
How to Teach This Song to Your Choir
If you’re a music director trying to pull this off, don't just hand out the lyrics. You have to teach the vibe.
First, focus on the "And bless" section. That crescendo is the hook. If the choir isn't unified on those "bless" repetitions, the song falls flat. Second, the "We've come to praise His name" section needs to be staccato. It should feel like a march.
Don't over-rehearse the ad-libs. Let your lead singer feel the room. Rev. Wright was famous for his spontaneity, and "Enter His Gates" thrives when it feels a little bit "unpolished" in its passion.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Listen to the 2007 Version: Find the Jesus, Jesus, Jesus album recording to hear the original "drive" section.
- Study the Harmonies: Look for "Choir Harmony Breakdowns" on video platforms—there are specific alto and tenor parts that define this song's specific New York sound.
- Check the BPM: The song usually sits around 110-115 BPM, but it often speeds up naturally during the praise break. Prepare your drummer for that shift!
Rev. Timothy Wright left behind a body of work that defines the modern mass choir sound. "Enter His Gates" remains his most accessible invitation to worship—a simple, powerful call that continues to resonate long after the music stops.