Built in 1870 within what was then known as a village within the township of Colchester, the parish church became one of the most visible landmarks in Chittenden County due to its unique double-spired design and proportional size comparative to its surrounding structures.

On May 13, 1869, ten acres of land for the church, rectory, and a cemetery was sold for $4,000 by a local merchant Francis LeClair to the Révérend Jean Frederick Audet (1842-1917), who was appointed as the pastor in 1868 and served in that capacity until his passing on December 28, 1917.

Francis LeClair (1818-1889)[9] who had emigrated from Quebec in 1828 established two brick yards, a grocery store, and served two terms in the Vermont legislature, oversaw the construction of the church with another local merchant and eventual State Representative, Charles Lafountain.

[3] Bishop de Goesbriand made his first pastoral visit to the church on September 17, 1871, where he celebrated a Solemn High Mass, sang vespers, and conferred the sacrament of Confirmation upon 110 parishioners.

[1] Historical accounts state that the Bishop had made it plain to parishioners that the church was intended only for those who understood and spoke the French language, as a majority of the local Catholic population of the day were French-Canadians.

A buttressed second tier and copper-clad steeples were subsequently added to the towers by Joseph E. Lanoue of Burlington with the assistance of a carpenter, Louis Berube in 1882.

[14] In 1928, a 7 ft (2.13 m) bronze statue of Saint Francis Xavier weighing 1,700 lb (770 kg) was installed upon the niche on the front gable.

In September 1968, an additional wing (designed by Marcel Beaudoin and Walter Moulton) was constructed on the eastern side of the Church which hosted a baptismal font and served as a ground-level entrance for the elderly and disabled.

[12] Gertrude Granger Picher the principal organist of St. Francis Xavier Church from 1930 to 1995 had helped facilitate the parish purchase of the prestigious Casavant pipe organ that is set in the choir loft.

Further improvements that occurred during this period included; the replacement of the pews within the sanctuary, the altar, pulpit, choir loft, communion rail, flooring, confessionals, and the sloping ceiling.

Front gable has crucifix at apex, riche with corbelled drip molds containing bronze statue of St. Francis, rose window with radiating spokes immediately below.