St. Elizabeth Church in Portland underwent significant renovation in 1983 under the direction of architect J. David Richen. The project transformed the church through reorientation and modernization while respecting its liturgical purpose.
The 1983 renovation restructured the church’s interior layout, relocating the sanctuary and reorganizing the gathering spaces. The remodeled parish center and hall were repositioned to better serve the community’s needs. The redesigned sanctuary incorporated updated post-Vatican II liturgical principles, featuring a processional cross and repositioned altar arrangement.
The renovated church includes several sacred elements: a baptismal font positioned at the entrance, a tabernacle with holy oil storage, and integrated stained glass work. The design reflects contemporary Catholic worship practices while maintaining reverence for traditional sacred spaces.
Multiple floor plans and architectural drawings document both the original configuration and the extensively remodeled structure, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of the 1983 restoration project, which balanced structural modernization with spiritual purpose.
