Prof. Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard, the first resident cleric, arrived in 1855 and began the work of building a permanent church.

Land was offered by John Donelson Martin in 1850, but the lot where the church now stands was purchased in 1855 from Philip and Mary Yancey, with construction beginning that year.

[2] Barnard resigned his posts after the outbreak of the American Civil War, however, and staffing and other difficulties relating to the hostilities prevented formal consecration of the church until 1871.

Duncan M. Gray Jr. strongly supported the 1962 integration of the university, and under his leadership and that of his son, the parish became heavily involved in racial reconciliation efforts.

It is not known for certain who served as architect, although parish tradition holds it to be Richard Upjohn, to whose style the church does correspond in plan and detail.