The church came into existence in 1837 at the time of the Goan schism when some Catholic families withdrew from their parish Milagres Cathedral and acknowledged the jurisdiction of the Vicar Apostolic of Verapoly. They built a church a few yards away from Milagres Cathedral. Since then it has undergone alterations and additions. It is strategically located close to the NH 66.
In 1880, Fr Albert D’Souza (1879–1890) decided to build a new church, and the location was moved to Nejar Hill. The foundation stone of the new church was blessed by the Bishop of Mangalore, the Most Rev. Pagani, on 26 November 1880. Due to paucity of funds, Fr Albert D’Souza could not complete the church. At this juncture, Mattheus Rebello, hereditary Patel of Kallianpurl, pledged his property, took a loan and completed the church building. The first mass was in the newly constructed tiled roof church building was offered on 14 May 1882. On 9 January 1883, the statue of the Holy Rosary was installed in the church. The church also received some land from the Patel, Ignatius Fernandes.
The expansion of the church was carried out in gradual stages. Fr J.M. Masse (1890–1916) built the presbytery in 1895, and Fr John Salvadore Mathais constructed the portico. Fr Piedade Saldanha (1931–1938) built a shrine to commemorate the centenary of the church in 1937. Fr Rosario Denis Sequeira (1957–1967) built the grotto.
The sesqui-centennial (1837–1987) celebrations were held in 1987 during the time of Fr Victor Saldanha. The cost of construction of the new belfry was donated by the Rebello family members in memory of the late Louis and Leticia Rebello. The new belfry was inaugurated on 30 January 1999. Fr Godfrey Saldanha completed the church hall, which was inaugurated on 4 January 2001, by Most Rev Dr Leo Cornelio of Khandwa diocese, who was the Archbishop of Bhopal at that time.
