On Tuesday, March 12th, 1878, the Foundation Stone of St. Paul's Mission Church was laid by the Bishop of Cape Town, Archbishop William West Jones, on a site in Bree Street.

However it is important to remember that the Mission Congregation had been active for twenty years before this. The new church would hold 400 worshippers and the total cost was £2600.

On Tuesday, March 30th, 1880, St. Paul’s Church was consecrated by Archbishop West Jones who preached from the text from Psalm 93. "The Lord is King and hath put on glorious apparel". There was a large congregation. The Parish registers begin from this date and many of the names in those early records are still well known in the parish today. The first Baptism to take place was that of Joseph James Palmer, son of Samuel and Sarah Palmer of 159 Bree Street.

The original pulpit and panels for the altar were designed by Miss Catherine Frere, daughter of the Governor, Sir Bartle Frere, and were made at Zonnebloem Kaffir Native College. They were given by the English Church Friendly Society.

In 1885 St. Paul's Church was beautified by the addition of seven stained-glass windows which were dedicated - "in memory of Dean Douglas and the parents, wife and son of Archdeacon Lightfoot”.

On Sunday, January 24th, 1899, the completed tower was consecrated by His Grace the Archbishop and the same year he laid the foundation stone of the new Mission School.

St. Paul's has been fruitful ground for producing bishops for the Church and the first of these was Lavis who became the Parish Priest after Archdeacon Lightfoot. It was he who, in memory of the first Rector, loved and respected by all classes and creeds in the entire Cape, enlarged the church by building a larger chancel and moving the organ to a new position. On November 13th, 1912.

In June 1926 the Clergy and Churchwardens invited parishioners and important guests to be present at the Consecration of the New Aisle, Lady Chapel and Vestries by His Grace, Archbishop Carter. When St. John's Church, Strand Street, was pulled down, the Stations of the Cross by van Hove eventually found a new home in the church in Bree Street.
The Holy Rood hanging over the transept was the gift of the Moore family in 1930.

On Sunday, January 24th, 1899, the completed tower was consecrated by His Grace the Archbishop and the same year he laid the foundation stone of the new Mission School.

St. Paul's has been fruitful ground for producing bishops for the Church and the first of these was Lavis who became the Parish Priest after Archdeacon Lightfoot. It was he who, in memory of the first Rector, loved and respected by all classes and creeds in the entire Cape, enlarged the church by building a larger chancel and moving the organ to a new position. On November 13th, 1912.

In June 1926 the Clergy and Churchwardens invited parishioners and important guests to be present at the Consecration of the New Aisle, Lady Chapel and Vestries by His Grace, Arch-bishop Carter. When St. John's Church, Strand Street, was pulled down, the Stations of the Cross by van Hove eventually found a new home in the church in Bree Street.

The Holy Rood hanging over the transept was the gift of the Moore family in 1930.