Missionaries had been in British Columbia since the 1840's, but it was not until later in the century when churches started to be built. Competition between the religious faiths to convert aboriginal peoples was fierce. In the 1890's the Federal government gave money to religious groups who had built churches or schools in a village for the purpose of education. (Warren Sommer, "Mission Church Architecture on the Industrial Frontier," Early Indian Village Churches: Wooden Frontier Architecture in British Columbia, John Veillette and Gary White, ed. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 1977) 12-23.) Shortly after in 1909 St. Mary's Church was built on the Skeecthestn Reserve.

The building of a church in an aboriginal community had two functions: "First, churches were useful as places of instruction, prayer, and sacramental worship. Second, the building of churches strengthened a missionary's hold on the villages he had claimed." (Ibid.) A church constructed within an aboriginal village was a clear sign to the other faiths to stay away.

Depending on the size of the village a residence was built for the priest. St. Mary's Church has a sleeping area for traveling priests who would normally perform religious functions on a monthly basis. In other parts of the province "many of the larger Roman Catholic villages also support a resident priest, and these churches have services once a week."(John Veillette and Gary White. Early Indian Village Churches: Wooden Frontier Architecture in British Columbia (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 1977) 27.)

Members of the Skeetchestn Band have taken part in the rebuilding of the church. This involvement with the restoration of the church seems to have renewed community spirit. Attendance at the services is no longer mandatory thus allowing individuals the opportunity to attend church because they want to. (Ibid.) A Cenotaph was erected beside the church in remembrance of individuals who participated in World War Two.