Catholic faith first reached 흑산도(Heuksando) when 손암 정약전(Jeong Yak-jeon, Sonam)was exiled there during the 1801 신유박해(Shin-yu Persecution) andshared the teachings of the Church with local residents. By 1951, a chapel wasestablished in Jangdo, followed by chapels in Simni in 1956 and in Sari thenext year, allowing the faith to spread rapidly across the island.

사리(Sari) is the place where 손암 정약전(Jeong Yak-jeon) lived in exile. Here he founded SachonSeodang, a village school where he taught students, and in1814 completed his work Jasan Eobo, a study ofthe ecology of marine fish.

As the Catholic community grew, the diocese sent 진 요한 신부(Father John Jin, Sean Brazil) to theisland. In 1957 he secured land for a church site in Jin-ri, Heuksan-myeon, andin November 1958 he built a modest and graceful church. The building is asingle-story stone structure featuring an open bell tower at the center of itsfaçade, and it was constructed using rounded stones easily found on the island.Recognized for its architectural value, it was designated Registered CulturalProperty No. 759 in 2019.