Catholic services were originally held in adjacent Grove House from Oct 1858 onwards where a Roman Catholic Primary School was also been established. Work on the present building started in Jan 1880 aand was completed, with the exception of the chapel, by the time of the patron St Francis on 4th Oct. In 1970 the spire, the one distinctive feature of the late Victorian building to remain, was dismantled because the stonework was crumbling.