Tradition attributes a long antiquity to the Christian church in Calicut. But available historical records point out that there was a church in Calicut as early as 1498 with Fr. Pedro De Covilham as parish priest. Neither the place nor further particulars are known. In 1513 we hear of a treaty between the Portuguese and the Zamorin of Calicut in which the former were allowed to have a factory and a chapel in Calicut. Whether this chapel is the same as the church of 1498 is not clear. But it is certain a church existed in Calicut in 1516 with Fr. Diego Moraes in charge. This church was destroyed in 1525. In 1596 a church was built in Calicut in the present spot and this was successively administered by Jesuit priests: famous among whom was Fr. Hanxladen – amos Padri – till the next treaty with the Zamorin in 1724. On 4th March 1724 a Portuguese man of war, Madre de Deos anchored off Calicut roads and a treaty was concluded between the Portuguese and the Zamorin. By this the Zamorin undertook to build a church with stone and mortar. a parochial house and belfry with a bell. This church was begun in 1724 and completed in 1725 Fr. Bernardo D’Sa. the then parish priest supervising the work. It was dedicated to Madre de Deos (either because of the name of the Portuguese man of war or because of the previous church of that name). The Zamorin also donated some land for the maintenance of this church built by him. The exact location of the land is not certain but it is said to be between the north and south piers. This land was supposed to have been taken over by the British East India Company and a monthly compensation of Rs. 50/- paid. This church had continued in a dilapidated condition until it was repaired by the order of the Archbishop of Cranganore and Cochin under whose jurisdiction it had come. Two schools were opened in 1796 and 1862. An orphanage and asylum were added in 1862. At this time the church seems to have been under the Carmelites and they opened a convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition in 1862. This convent was taken over by the sisters of the Apostolic Carmel in 1871. They also took charge of the Girls’ School. In 1878 Calicut came under the Jesuits and the Boys school passed into their hands from the Christian Brothers who left the mission. St. Vincent de Paul Society come into existence attached to the church in 1978. The poor of every caste and creed were assisted by this society in their temporal needs. By the Apostolic Brief of 12th June 1923 Pope Pius XI erected the new diocese of Calicut, dividing the Mangalore diocese. Bishop Paul Perini of the Society of Jesus, the first Bishop took this church as his Cathedral. But he found the church too small for the growing catholic congregation (the town had then only one parish besides a small sub-station at West Hill served from this church) and arranged for its reconstruction, befitting a Cathedral. Accordingly in 1924 Fr. M.F.Barboza S.J, demolished the sanctuary part of the old church and reconstructed the present sanctuary and the two wings. Fr. Edward Beretta S.J. built the dome and the nave. Fr. Rocca, S.J. renovated the whole, under the instructions and guidance of Bishop Patroni and beautified the sanctuary. The galleries running through round the dome were added by Fr. A.J.Fernandez.