The construction of this complex resulted from a religious pledge of piety formulated during the middle of the 17th century, by a native of São Roque do Pico, Sebastião Ferreira Pimentel.

[1] Eventually, the convent needed to shelter Franciscan friars from Lajes do Pico following the volcanic eruption of 1 February 1718, that occurred in the civil parish of Santa Luzia, and whose population fled to São Roque for assistance.

Over time, it began to fall into ruin, with many of the internal spaces vandalized, windows and doors damaged, water infiltration through the roof[2] and most of its artifacts transferred to expositions.

It was finally classified as a Property of Public Interest under Decree 129/77, on 29 September 1977, but continued for several years to wait a budget to recuperate and restore its dependencies.

The monastic structure consists of a long two-story horizontal facade with a three-story church abutting its western wall, and adjacent bodies characteristic of its role as convent.

[5] The walls of the prebystery present two grand panels of polychromatic azulejo tile, while a stone-worked baptismal fountain completes the utilitarian aspects of the church.