The church was designed by the architect Temple Moore (1856–1920), but was built from 1924 to 1926 by his son-in-law Leslie Thomas Moore.

[1] The church stands on an irregularly shaped plot, and the buildings has been built to this.

[1] The chancel is located in the north-east corner rather than the usual liturgical east.

[3] As of 2024[update], St Columba's is united with St James with Holy Trinity Church, Scarborough as the benefice of Scarborough Saint Columba and Saint James with Holy Trinity.

The parish is in the Archdeaconry of The East Riding of the Diocese of York.