Constructed in 1833–1834, it is the oldest church in New York City specifically built to be a Roman Catholic sanctuary.

[3] At the time St. Joseph's Parish began, the population of New York, numbering 203,000, was concentrated in the southern half of Manhattan.

[4] After several years in a rented hall at Grove and Christopher Streets,[4] the cornerstone of the present church was laid on June 10, 1833.

The event organized by parishioner David Pais was originally planned to be held in the school, but so many people attended that it had to be moved to the church.

[10] Tos was removed from ministry following accusations of sexual abuse of a minor, which were determined to be credible by the Archdiocese of New York.

In addition to its campus ministry and other missions, the parish organized a weekly soup kitchen in 1982 (starting less formally in 1976) that operated for more than 30 years[14] and has continued as an independent charity since 2015.