[1] The church was declared a Chilean National Monument in 1979 and UNESCO World Heritage Site on 30 November 2000.

That same year, a church was built with the name of the apostle Saint James (Santiago in Spanish), to be used in the evangelization of the indigenous peoples of Chiloé.

It burned down again in 1902, and was rebuilt in the style of a Gothic stone church, but using the island's traditional wood craftsmanship.

The interiors are made of rauli beech and olivillo; however the facade, roof and exterior lining are sheets of galvanized iron.

Its facade is often painted with bright colours, making it a highlight of Castro’s Plaza de Armas.