Commissioned by Allan G. Thom in honour of his father, Robert Thom, the church was completed in 1914 after several years of planning and construction. Designed in a modest, simplified Gothic style, its round tower and barrel-vaulted roof give it a distinctive appearance—unusual in the Hebrides, where most places of worship are either older and more austere, or more plainly functional.

The original idea was to provide a centre of worship for a Protestant population, but the island’s residents were, and remain, predominantly Roman Catholic. As a result, the church has only ever seen occasional use. It remains consecrated and structurally sound, with simple wooden furnishings and minimal decoration inside. The space is quiet and cool, with narrow stained-glass windows casting thin bands of colour across pale walls.

A single headstone outside marks the graves of Allan and Joanna Thom. The surrounding grounds are enclosed by a low wall, with a gate set into it leading toward the main track. There’s no regular clergy presence on the island, but the building is kept clean and accessible. Most visitors stay briefly—often walking up from the pier, pausing inside, and continuing on toward A’Chill or the west of the island.

While it no longer serves a congregation, the church is still valued. Its shape, setting, and intention hold meaning for those who live here, and for those trying to understand Canna’s layered history—from early Christianity to later landownership and shifts in island life through the 20th century.