It is dedicated in honour of St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, the order of priests who founded the Church and have always and continue to administer the parish, on behalf of the Archdiocese of Adelaide.

In September 1869 the Jesuits purchased a property owned by Charles Draper and known as Cannonbury House, at the corner of William and Queen Streets in Norwood.

[4] At this time Father Joseph Tappeiner SJ, close friend and advisor to St Mary Mackillop, moved to the Parish from Sevenhill.

The Church has continued to have a long association with Mackillop and her Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart up until the current day.

on the Bellarmine Lawns at Saint Ignatius' College's Athelstone campus and the garden to the rear of Manresa (the priests' residence at Norwood) respectively.