Tenders were administered by John Henry Monger Snr,[2] publican and storekeeper, who lived in Faversham House next door to the north, a former engineer who must have been the building's designer.

Monger's call for tenders stated: Tenders for Building the Wesleyan Chapel in York TENDERS will be received by Mr J H Monger, York, on the 18th April, at 10 o’clock in the forenoon, either separately or jointly, from any person or persons who may be willing to perform the undermentioned work, viz: - To have a good sound stone foundation 18 inches thick, level from the highest part of the ground, the remainder of the wall to be brick, 9 inch work, 40 feet long, 22 feet wide, 10 feet high, good arches over the windows and doors, also the windows and doors and frames for both the sashes to be hung with weights and pullies, the doors to be panelled.

[3] Monger's design is harmonic, simple and symmetrical, being Victorian Georgian style (not including the later portico).

[14]: 24–27, 42–45 After Reverend Thomas Bird arrived in August 1878,[15] he saw that the chapel was too small and started plans for a new church and to use the old one for the Sunday School, and social and business meetings.

[16][17]: 4  In 1885, the trustees and the Rev William Lowe held a meeting to discuss plans for building the church.

The "Wesleyan body generally responded to the demand upon their resources" and by March 1888 most of the money had reportedly been raised.

"The best musical talent that the district affords has been secured" and "with one or two exceptions" this concert was declared a success and raised £17 for the building fund.

[22][18]: 5  In fact, only £236 had been raised, all of the donors to that time being listed in an advertisement the following month, the largest of them being John Henry Monger (£59) who was paying in instalments.

[1]: 11–19 By June, it was reported that construction of the church was fast reaching completion and would be finished by the first Sunday in August 1888.

The Rev Thomas Bird held the opening service in the new Church on Wednesday 22 August 1888 at 3:45 pm.

[26] The local newspaper, the Eastern Districts Chronicle reported: The Church is a valuable addition to the many imposing edifices erected here, and the internal arrangements are finished in a workmanlike manner, redounding greatly to the credit of Messrs. Pringle and Moscrip, as contractors.

[18]: 4 The architect of the church was Alfred McBain Bonython who had come from Adelaide and Melbourne and was living in Perth designing buildings for the Shenton family.

[27] The church is in Victorian Academic Gothic Revival style;[14]: 46–49  and its features include a steeply pitched roof, parapeted gable, excellent stone masonry, wall buttresses, lancet windows, a porch with Gothic arch (a later addition)[28] and label moulds.

A fund was raised by Mrs Florence Monger in 1895 for the purchase of an organ constructed by Alfred Monk of London.