Traders of the East India Company were engaged in trade with China from the late 18th century until 1834.

Prior to this, the Portuguese authorities had only allowed Roman Catholic burials in the colony.

In 1834, when the East India Company lost its trade monopoly, responsibility for the chapel and cemetery was taken by the British government.

Two conditions were placed on these works; it had to be hidden from the street behind a high wall, and it could have no church bell.

The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and of parts of China had made it impossible for Anglican priests to get to neutral Macau, where there was no resident Anglican priest; Florence Li Tim-Oi, the deaconess in charge of the chapel, was authorised by Bishop Ronald Hall and his assistant to give the sacraments to the Anglicans in these extenuating circumstances.