According to Historic England, the current building was first permanent Roman Catholic church to be built in Teesside since the Reformation.

On 7 July 1842, the present church was opened by Bishop Francis Mostyn, the Apostolic Vicariate of the Northern District.

With the town and local Catholic population increasing, missions were started from St Mary's Church to serve other parts of Stockton-on-Tees.

In 1908, a mission was started in the south of Stockton-on-Tees, resulting in a wooden church being built on the corner of Yarm Road and Spring Street.

In 1926, the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, Joseph Thorman bought Ragworth Hall and four acres of land from the Ropner family in Norton for the future construction of a church and a school.

Mass was first said in Norton in 1933 in the library of Ragworth Hall by a Fr Thornton, the first parish priest.

[6] In the 1950s, the population and town continued to grow and St Mary's Church was not large enough to accommodate the expanding congregation.

On 19 September 1956, Saints Peter and Paul church was opened, it cost £24,000 and had a capacity of around 600 people.