It was built as a place of worship by the staff of Impregilo during the building of the dam.

[1] Subsequently, a memorial plaque was placed in the church to honor the 28 staff of Impregilo SPA who died building the dam.

The Church was built to provide a worshipping place and also host the then Archbishop of Milan, Giovanni Battista Montini, who later became Pope Paul VI.

The church, which was completed in 21 days, was designed to resemble praying hands.

The gas was possibly ignited by the lighting of a welding torch.