The building of St. Augustine’s Church began in 1844 under the direction of Rev. William O’Brien as a result of the growing Roman Catholic presence in the Chester area. On September 7, 1846, Most Rev. William Walsh held a Mass of Thanksgiving to commemorate the completion of the Church.

In 1931, the bell of the church, which was cast at the Causard Foundry in Colmar, Haut Rhin and weighed 650 pounds, was installed. It had been donated by the Parishioners and summer visitors.

The first parish priest was Rev. William P. Stone, 1845 – 1855. On Sunday, June 16, 1996, St. Augustine’s celebrated its 150th anniversary with a special Mass celebrate by Bishop Austin Burke and then parish priest, Rev. Louis Saldanha . Several former parish priests were in attendance also.