The first official mention of this church was on the occasion of the visit by the Vicar Apostolic, Placido di Pace, on 9 June 1698. It was looked after by a hermit who lived there, tended his own small vegetable garden and kept the key of the largest of the three existing doors.
Sailors supported the church generously with their financial contributions and celebrated Mass here on holy days. A chalice of pure silver testifies to the outstanting devotion which was displaye for the 1714 visit, with a new altar, as well as a wall-painting of the Madonna, adorned with silver half-crowns.
In 1875, the church was well equipped, with one marble altar and two wooden ones. These last were dedicated to St. Anthony the Abbot and to Our Lady of Grace, with their respective statues (that of the Madonna had a silver crown). The sanctuary had marble communion rails and there were two confessionals, the pulpit, the organ above the door and the arched belfry above the entrance. Records of 1885 refer to another altar, dedicated to St. Joseph, with his statue and another of St. Pasquale Baylon.
The church was restored in 1905, by which the cemetery had been relocated close by. In 1913, it was closed while it was occupied by soldiers.

(source: GuidAgropoli)