Welcome to
St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church
We are a small but growing and inclusive parish, loving God and one another in worship, service, and community.
All are welcome here, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender identification, sexual orientation, ability, or economic status.
You don’t have to be perfect; you don’t even have to be a believer. Come explore, learn, love, serve, and grow with us.
And if you are looking for a church home…welcome home!
Who Are We?
In April 1971, a small group of Episcopalians began meeting to discuss starting a mission. By November, they were holding regular services in the Barnett Shoals Elementary School on the east side of the city. They were more interested in outreach than buildings. They baked their own Communion bread, and built a rolling storage/altar (fondly referred to as “God -in-a-box”) to turn the cafeteria into a church.
The following January, 36 members presented a petition to the Diocese of Atlanta, which officially made St. Gregory the Great a mission. After 18 months with visiting clergy, the Rev. Kenneth Kinnett became the congregation’s first priest. Soon, reconstructing church every Sunday morning in the school cafeteria proved impractical, and St. Gregory’s bought land across the street for an all-purpose worship, fellowship, education and office building.
Growth was slow but steady. A second building was constructed in 1989 to serve as parish hall, with members completing the interior of the second story. A new sanctuary, seating 325, was dedicated in 2002. The structure is larger, but traditions of incorporating local art, informal dress, enthusiastic exchange of The Peace and receiving Eucharist in a circle around the free-standing altar continues.
As the church grows in numbers and in programs, the congregation is committed to maintaining the strong sense of community of the early years.
