Years of dreaming, praying, planning, revising, and fundraising came to fruition this fall with the blessing of a new narthex at St. Gregory Church in Gray.

“At long last, we’re here. We’re standing in it. We’re enjoying it, and we’re marveling that we actually made it to the finish line,” said Father Steven Cartwright, pastor of the Parish of the Holy Eucharist, which includes St. Gregory Church.

“It’s something we have needed for ages,” said Yvette Knight, a parishioner. “It does give us a place to talk so that when we go into church, it can be quiet.”

The 788-square-foot addition to the front of the church includes not only the narthex but an expanded sacristy, a larger choir area, a bell tower with a carillon, two ADA-compliant bathrooms, a janitorial closet, and an expanded storage area. Among the beautiful features of the new narthex are stained-glass windows of Jesus and Mary. To complement the church’s existing window of Jesus, the depiction of Mary was custom handcrafted by Jim Nutting of the Maine Art Glass Studio in Lisbon Falls.

 The narthex is dedicated in memory of Father Jim Morrison, who served as the fourth pastor of St. Gregory in the mid-1980s and was beloved by parishioners. Father Morrison passed away in 2013.

“This narthex is a tribute to dear Father Jim Morrison, a priest with a legendary gift for making everyone feel welcome. And if he were here today, I am fairly certain that he would look around and smile and say, ‘Well, it’s about time,’” said Father Cartwright.

Natalie Bonnell, a first cousin of Father Morrison’s, said she believes he would be pleased with the beautiful addition to the church.

“I’m sure he is with us. I am sure he is. I really feel that he knows what’s happening this evening. He must be just beaming all over. I know I am,” she said. “It’s a glorious tribute to him.”

Bishop James Ruggieri blessed the new narthex, sprinkling the walls with holy water during a Mass celebrated on November 17. In his homily, the bishop noted the significance of a narthex, describing it as more than just an entryway.

“It is the place where one pauses before stepping into the main body of the church. It is a space of preparation. It is a space of welcome. It is the threshold where we move from the world into worship. And then, later, when we are sent at the conclusion of Mass, we move from worship back into the world but now charged with mission.”

Parishioners contributed $425,000 towards the additions, which were designed by Callender & Delaney Architects, with Great Falls Construction serving as the general contractor. Petit Excavation, electrician Peter Wilson, Walsh Engineering Associates, Stone Mountain Systems, and the Diocesan Construction Company (DICON) also contributed to the project.

 “It’s a lot of room and things that we didn’t have,” said Francis Holnaider, who has attended the church for 15 years. “For a little church, I think it balances it very nicely.”

“I think it’s such a great addition to the church. I think it’s going to be a really welcoming space. That’s my prayer for this,” said Linda Nicak, a choir member. “As the bishop said, people come in, encounter God, and then we take Him with us when we leave.”

“This project shows that our parish has a bright future and that we intend to hand something beautiful to those who come after us,” said Father Cartwright. “May this new space be filled with welcome, mercy, music, and grace for generations to come.”