Remember My Church

During the first two decades of its existence, St. Gregory was without a large permanent church. In 1921, Father Klasen proposed the building of a new church for St. Gregory the Great Parish to accommodate and represent the beautiful and growing community. Archbishop Mundelein approved on the condition that the new building was “something distinctive, not just another ‘catalogue’ church.”  Construction began in 1924 and would conclude in 1926. The whole parish worked to fund the over $400,000 cost of the new building through fundraising events held multiple times each week. The beautiful Norman Gothic church was dedicated June 20, 1926. 

St. Gregory’s Norman Gothic church was designed by the architects Comes, Perry, and McMullen of Pittsburgh. In the early 19th century, there was an emergence of Medieval style churches reflecting European descent. Fr. Klasen was dedicated to creating a hub of art and culture in this new space. As a result of this, some of the works housed in St. Gregory were done by Old World artisans. These include an altar of sacrifice made from a former Communion rail, a Holy Rood beam, and a hand-carved filigree pulpit displaying the Four Evangelists.  

This is the podium used in St Gregory the Great church services. It was hand carved out of wood in Germany in the early 20th century. It has been at the church since it was first built. The podium features a spiral staircase and multiple saints carved around including the one pictured. It is one of the most detailed pieces of functional art in the church.