[1] The Iglesia Filipina Independiente's first central church was actually the ground floor of a big house located at 488 Calle Lemery (now Juan Luna Street), a few meters away from Paseo de Azcarraga, in Tondo, Manila.

It was in that same house on October 26, 1902, where the historic grand inauguration, launching, and celebration of the first Solemn High Mass of Gregorio Aglipay, the first Supreme Bishop, was held.

After the historic event, Doña Saturnina also volunteered to finance the building of the National Cathedral in a lot she voluntarily donated to the church, but without deed.

Also known as the Tondo Cathedral, the church stood on a 2,000-square-meter lot at 227 (formerly 111) Calle Azcarraga (now Claro M. Recto Avenue), but was totally destroyed on February 6, 1945, through the indiscriminate bombing by American forces during World War II.

The María Clara Christ Church at V. Concepción Street in Santa Cruz, Manila served as the temporary national center of worship.

In 1972, by virtue again of the said contract, the lessor Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America voluntarily ceded and conveyed unto the lessee Iglesia Filipina Independiente ownership in fee simple of the said property and all improvements thereon, subject however, to certain conditions.

Since then, a massive nationwide fundraising campaign was spearheaded by the Supreme Bishop and the National Cathedral Commission, with contributions from among the members and sympathizers of the Church.