The entire complex housed the church and a hospital of the same name built in 1848,[1] which was also used as a psychiatric centre and a women's prison over time.

Currently the land belongs to the Charity of Tacna[3] and was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation in 2005,[4] with its reconstruction announced but not yet started.

During the War of the Pacific, the temple was one of the places where the Peruvian troops hid the flag of the "2nd Line" Regiment of the Chilean Army's Infantry, captured during the battle of Tarapacá by Mariano Santos Mateo.

After the mass, the members of the society transport the flag in a procession from the temple, continuing along Unanue Street, to their location in Alto Lima.

After being taken through the central streets of the city, it arrived at the premises of the Benemérita Sociedad de Artesanos y Auxilios Mutuos El Porvenir.

The mayor's office extended the deadline to 48 more hours when the priests were finally expelled from the city[6] and the temple was subsequently destroyed.