Downtown Parish Church is located adjacent to the walls of the Roman Contra-Aquincum Fortress and the Elisabeth Bridge.

After a fire in 1723, it was restored between 1725 and 1739 in Baroque style, under the direction of the master builder János György Pauer (1692-1752).

In 1828, István Kultsár (born in 1760), the great Hungarian theater promoter of the Enlightenment era, was entombed in the church's vault.

[dubious – discuss] The church was restored several times: by János Hild between 1805 and 1808, Imre Steindl in 1889, and Lászlo Gerő after 1945.

When the Elisabeth Bridge was being rebuilt after destruction during World War II, the Communist government of Hungary sought to demolish the church, but the Church, through astute negotiation with the Communist authorities, managed to save this historic treasure.