The idea for St. Gregory the Great parish began on August 22, 1957, when the Diocese of Buffalo purchased from Mrs. Katherine Klein a 22.75 acre tract of farmland. The property was located on Maple Road, a two-lane country highway that ran through a portion of the town of Amherst. The following year, in June 1958, Bishop Joseph A. Burke appointed Rev. Robert L. Buchheit as the first pastor of what would become a new parish on that isolated piece of farmland.

Father Buchheit's dream of a new parish and the enthusiastic support of his parishioners sustained him through the winter of 1958, when snow blew through cracks in the walls and windows of the farmhouse rectory. In July of the following summer, parishioners gathered for a field Mass to bless and dedicate the land where a new school and rectory would be erected. Thirteen months later, on September 7, 1960, the dream became reality with the grand opening of St. Gregory the Great school with 386 students, who were taught by the Sisters of St. francis and several dedicated lay teachers. The school building also served as the parish church, with Masses taking place in classrooms until the installation of an altar and pews transformed the school auditorium into a temporary church. The solemn Dedication of the School and the new Rectory took place on October 16, 1960 with Bishop Burke presiding.

In 1967, construction began on the current church and a much needed addition to the school. The Solemn Dedication of the Church took place on October 13, 1968 with Bishop James A. McNulty presiding. By this time, the parish had grown to about 1600 families. From that point on, rapid growth characterized both the Amherst area and St. Gregory parish.

In August 1974, Father Buchheit became Pastor of St. Mary's parish in Strykersville, and Rev. Robert E. McNamara became the new pastor of St. Gregory's. With intuition, ingenuity and foresightedness, Msgr. McNamara restructured the parish finances. A great milestone was reached on September 20, 1986 when the parish paid off its debt and burned the certificate of mortgage at a Mass of Thanksgiving with Bishop Edward D. Head as the main celebrant.

Over the years, as St. Gregory the Great parish grew, there were new additions, such as a parish playground, expanded parking lots, new landscaping, and a beautiful new Grotto, which was dedicated in memory of Msgr. MaNamara, who died in 1993. In February, 1994, Rev. Msgr. Rupert A. Wright became the third pastor of St. Gregory the Great parish, which had grown to over 5,000 families.

There is no question that St. Gregory's has been blessed with growth and development over the years. The story of the parish is more than an account of how a piece of farmland was transformed with new buildings and equipment, however. It is more than anything a story of people - the people of God - bishops, priests, sisters, men, women and children, who formed a community of worship and service. Today, the story of "community" continues to grow and flourish at St. Gregory's. Thanks be to God!