The cathedral was commissioned by the Dowager Queen Adelaide during a visit to Malta in the 19th century when she found out that there was no place of Anglican worship on the island.

Queen Adelaide laid the foundation stone on 20 March 1839 and her banner hangs above the choir stalls.

[3] During World War II the cathedral received minor damage and the roof collapsed, but most of the structure remained intact.

In 1938, it was transformed into a gas-proof air raid shelter, which in the early days of the conflict was used by the chaplain, his wife and scores of Maltese citizens.

[4] A Valletta landmark due to its spire rising over 60 metres, it is constructed with Maltese limestone in a neo-classical style.

[7] On 9 February 2017, the church council launched a project to restore the building and steeple with the aim of raising €3,000,000 to cover the costs.