It was the fourth Catholic church built in North Carolina, the first west of Raleigh, and the first in what is today the Diocese of Charlotte.

Built to serve the Irish miners in the area, it underwent a long period of neglect until restoration efforts began in the mid-20th century.

This land was eventually accepted by the Benedictines at Saint Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania, who arrived in 1876 and established what is today Belmont Abbey.

The construction of St. Peter's in Charlotte and losses and disruption from the American Civil War contributed to declining parish rolls.

Completed in 1844, the structure a vernacular temple-form, Greek Revival style frame church clad in white clapboard.