The church was established on 16 April 1924 by the Schmutzer family, who owned a sugar factory in the area. From a total of 25 Catholics in the area in 1922, the congregation has expanded to 8,000 in 2011. The building has seen many modifications, including reconstruction after the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake. Much critical commentary has been made on its Javanese design, and the church continues to include Javanese culture in its liturgy.