The church is dedicated to two Jesuit saints, Francis Xavier and the local David Lewis, who is buried nearby.

In 1616, David Lewis was born in Abergavenny, he became a Jesuit, and after his training he returned to work in Monmouthshire for thirty years.

In 1799, Fr Joseph Hunt was appointed by William Sharrock the Vicar Apostolic of the Western District to serve the Usk mission.

Francis McDonnell, a local solicitor, donated the land and paid for half of the construction costs.

On 18 November 2019, a shrine in the church was dedicated to St David Lewis by the Archbishop of Cardiff George Stack.