Built in 1836 until 1848, architecturally, the church is in classical Graeco-Roman style, featuring the facade's two bell towers connected by a porch with two supporting columns on the foyer.

[2] Talisay during the Spanish times was a property of Augustinian friars and a visita of San Nicolas,[3] which was a district south of then municipality of Cebu and to which it was later annexed.

[4] The area separated from San Nicolas when the local population boomed[5] and on August 16, 1836, the parish was declared independent under Juan Soriano[3] by virtue of a royal decree signed on April 25, 1836.

[5] On October 15, 2007, coinciding its fiesta celebration, the parish was declared as an archdiocesan shrine by Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, then Archbishop of Cebu.

Its original design was cruciform with two semicircular transepts[5] and the twin belfries on each side of the façade,[6] with a connecting balustraded portico that is supported by two columns on the main entrance, are its prominent feature.