Two Maltese friars, Fr Bonaventure Sceberras and Fr Roger Azzopardi started a mission in Portishead, Somerset that became St Joseph's Church.

In 1910, the friars started St Anthony of Padua Church, Rye in East Sussex.

[3] On 7 November 1926, a temporary church was opened by the Archbishop of Liverpool Frederick Keating.

In 1931, building work started on St Anthony of Padua Church.

From 1962 to 1963, the murals in the apsidal sanctuary were replaced by ones painted by Giuseppe Lerario OFM, which depict Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the pope and bishops of the Second Vatican Council as well as murals of St Anthony of Padua and St Francis of Assisi.