James Wentworth Leigh, Dean of Hereford Cathedral in England, held services for former slaves at the plantation on Butler's island, just south of Darien, Georgia.

Around 1875, the parishioners asked Father Leigh to hold services in Darien as well, and the same year members of the church began construction of the present-day St. Cyprian's church which was constructed of tabby.

Many benefactors from England and from the North in the United States provided funds to help build the church.

It was completed and consecrated in 1876 and named for Cyprian of Carthage, a martyred African saint.

It was during this time that the church established a school for the education of African-American children in Darien.