It was built from 1893 to 1895 and designed by Edward Joseph Hansom, Archibald Matthias Dunn and W. Ellison Fenwicke in the Gothic Revival style.

It is located on the corner of Hutton Avenue and St Paul's Road close to the centre of Hartlepool.

In 1834 the first Catholic church was built in Hartlepool, it was St Mary's Chapel in Headland.

In 1867, a mission was started from St Mary's Church in the town centre.

All these additions were instigated by the then parish priest, Canon Patrick Lacey[3] who died from a heart attack 2 weeks after his Golden Jubilee Mass.