FALMOUTH — The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin is beginning a new chapter with a new rector and the planned March completion of a major renovation.

In 2008 the congregation launched its Legacy Campaign to ensure St. Mary’s would be fit for use by future generations. That campaign, combined with a capital campaign, raised enough money to begin significant renovations to the parish house, chapel, office and meeting rooms.

“We have now come full circle in the fact that the renovations are under way and expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year,” said parishioner Janet Browne, who worked on the Legacy Campaign.

After the death of its former rector, St. Mary’s began the search for a replacement and found the Rev. Nathan Ferrell.

“He really is the star,” Browne said. “He is the symbol of the new beginning for us.”

Ferrell came to Falmouth from a parish in New Jersey.

“I needed to have a fresh start and was looking for a good place to have a family and did the interview process, visited the area and everything worked out well,” Ferrell said. “It was a really good fit.”

He said that while the renovation process can be disruptive, it is very exciting to have some very important parts of the church restored while adding new spaces that will help the congregation move into the future.

“It’s exciting to have new space and be ready for a new era of education and community building for the future,” he said.

There is a lot of work still to be completed by next March on the church at 43 Foreside Road.

Ferrell said the Mother Window, a stained-glass window that was greatly in need of repair, was replaced last week and other areas of the church are beginning to come together. However, there is still work to be done on the parish house, the chapel, offices and new classrooms.

Once renovations are completed there will be spaces available for public use. Ferrell said it is important for the church to be community oriented.

“(The renovation) is getting us ready for the next chapter,” he said. “We can’t be of service to the community and able to grow as a community without good spaces to meet and spaces to have education time for our children and ourselves as we continue to grow spiritually.”

Amber Cronin can be reached at acronin@theforecaster.net or 781-3661 ext. 125. Follow her on Twitter @croninamber.

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As a result of a successful fundraising campaign, significant renovations are underway at St. Mary’s Epsicopal Church on Foreside Road in Falmouth. Work is expected to be completed in March.