[1] English Heritage describes the church as a "well crafted building of high quality.

"[3] A substantial part of the cost of building the church was paid for by the poet Coventry Patmore.

In 1880, his wife, Marianne, died and he contacted the Pallottines about founding a church in Hastings.

[1] In 1882, the foundation stone for the church building was laid by Dr. William Weathers, Titular Bishop of Amyela.

While the church was being built, the crypt was used as a location to say Mass for the local Catholic population.