St. Mary's began as a sandstone church in 1889, built near the Elbow River on land provided by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

The building was designed by architects Maxwell Bates, and Alfred Hodges; with Jan Bobrowski and Partners as the project engineers.

A 4.9-metre (16 ft) statue of the Virgin Mary with Child in stone, by the Calgary sculptor Luke Lindoe occupies a niche above the main entrance.

Senator Pat Burns donated four 750-pound (340 kg) bells in to the church in 1904 that were cast by the Paccard Foundry in Annecy, France.

The tabernacle, chalices, monstrance, candle holders and sanctuary lamp were all designed and cast by Gunning and Son Bronze Works of Dublin.