Although it was built from 1903 to 1905, it was the third attempt to build a permanent local Catholic church in St Albans.

In 1840, a mission was started by Fr William Crook, who travelled to the city from St Edmund's College, Ware.

In the 1860s, a mission was restarted, led by a former Anglican, Fr George Bampfield, who came from Barnet to St Albans.

On 22 June 1877, the foundation stone of a new church was laid by Cardinal Henry Manning, the Archbishop of Westminster.

It was funded by a Major James Gape and designed by the architects T. J. Willson and Samuel Joseph Nicholl.

The architectural firm of Broadbent, Hastings, Reid & Todd designed the extensions and the total cost came to £70,000.

[2] In June 2019, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart handed the parish back to the Diocese of Westminster, who continue to serve the church.

One Sunday Mass is celebrated at nearby St John Fisher School in Marshalswick at 9:00am.