In the early 1860s they purchased land in the Garnethill district, which, at that time, was on the western outskirts of the city and a residential area recently favoured by the wealthier classes.

This building was made of iron and glass, very similar to Glasgow Queen Street station, was known as 'Fr Kay's Railway Shed'.

[4] The Sisters of Mercy came to Garnethill in 1868 at the invitation of the Jesuits and rented from them two houses in Rose Street, the area now occupied by the church.

[4] The foundation stone for the present church building was laid on 4 October 1908 and it was opened on 6 February 1910, by the Archbishop of Glasgow, John Maguire.

The building is listed category A and was designed by a Belgian architect, Charles Jean Ménart in the baroque revival style.

[4] The interior decoration of the church was a prolonged and costly enterprise and the debt increased alarmingly so that the prospect of the solemn consecration receded.

The centre is staffed by a diverse team of Jesuits, lay people and members of other Catholic religious orders and other Christian denominations.