This is perhaps the most well maintained church in Luanda after a refurnish sponsored by the French oil company ELF. The church was originally built as an exclusive church for the Portuguese upper-class in Luanda, partly because they wanted their own church and partly to illustrate their economic power. To make the church unique, they constructed a few special features, such as a fire alarm for the entire city of Luanda. The fire alarm was a part of the clock-tower and it was quite simple, a special melody for each part of town.

The work on this church was started already in 1655 and it was inaugurated in August 1679. In 1825 it was made the church of Luanda but its roof collapsed and it lost its status until extensive restoration was started in 1897.