In 1794, St Francis de Sales Chapel was built in Yoxall and Catholics travelled there from Burton to celebrate Mass.

[4] With the increasing local Catholic population of Burton, a new larger church needed to be built.

The priest, Fr C. McCabe commissioned a Mr Young of London to plan a new church.

Instead, J. Knight Morley, who previously worked with E. W. Pugin, was asked about the church and he modified Young's plans.

Construction of the church was done by Messrs Lowe and Sons and was delayed by the late delivery of columns made of Connemara marble.

On 27 August 1879, the church was opened in a ceremony where Cardinal Henry Manning, Archbishop of Westminster, preached.