It was the church of the Archdiocese of Medellín from 1868 to 1931, when this title passed to the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

Its original structure built in stone and mortar has been patched over throughout its history with unrelated materials.

[3] Renovations occurred during 1997 and on July 31, 1998, by resolution 0795, the building was declared a National monument of Colombia.

Three years later, the Spaniards started the construction of the Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria, which was rebuilt at the end of the 18th century.

[4] It was dedicated to Our Lady of Candelaria, an invocation of special devotion to the Spanish and particularly for the sailors who crossed the Atlantic to the New World.