In 1883, as settlement in the area had developed fully, a committee was formed to raise funds for the purpose of constructing a new church in Burnley.

Watts' design for the new St Bartholomew's Church, in the Arts and Crafts movement style, included an entrance porch facing Swan Street and a tower with an octagonal spire at the north-west corner.

Various factors contributed to this decision: most notably the 1910 building had been weakened by ground vibrations generated by being situated between the busy tramway in Swan Street and the railway line directly behind the original property.

The limitation on the size of the site made expansion of the buildings to accommodate additional activities, such as a parish kindergarten, impossible.

Elements of Thomas Watts and Sons' Arts and Crafts designs were copied for the four-bay nave, transepts and chancel with adjacent vestry and organ chamber.

However, the crenellated brick bell tower, baptistery and "west" front facing Burnley Street show some features of early Art Deco design.

The original metal tower louvres were then replaced with wooden shutters which can be opened or closed to alter decibel levels and the ringing chamber was made accessible by a spiral staircase.

[7] On 11 November 1956, the wayside Calvary outside the "west" front of the church on Burnley Street was dedicated by the vicar, the Revd Father Lyle McIntyre.

[9] Most of the remaining windows were also brought from the Swan Street church building and consist of Arts and Crafts leadlights, incorporating green "bottle" glass with pink borders, casting a distinctive light across the interior.

[10] There are also two rose windows located high in the "north" and "south" transepts and other more modern stained glass at the rear of the church, both near the baptistery and in the entrance porch.

A stained glass window depicting the crucifixion, originally from Holy Trinity Church, Port Melbourne, was installed sometime in the early 2000s.