Designed by architect Andrew Heiton of Perth, Scotland, it is a decorated Gothic building, with a spire 180 feet (54.9 m) high.

The Earl had moved from a house of the same name in Smithfield which had by that time become an unfashionable district.

[5] The congregation had previously, from 1667 until 1864, worshipped on Capel Street, on the site of the old St. Mary's Abbey.

William Jacque, who left along with some of its congregation to form the new church.

The Capel Street Congregation was sometimes incorrectly referred to as the Scots Church, and confused with the Scots Presbyterian Church, Lower Abbey Street.