Tunstall was in the parish of Wolstanton and was originally served by St Margaret's church and the chapel at Newchapel.

As a result of the rapid growth of the town in the early 19th century proposals were put forward for the provision of a new Anglican church in the 1820s. A site at the corner of Furlong Road was purchased from Ralph Sneyd of Keele Hall for £400.

A meeting was held on 7th May, 1829, at the Sneyds Arms Inn, to consider the measures necessary to promote the building of the church. The committee formed raised £1,000 by private subscriptions towards the costs of building the church with the remaining £3,000 being provided by parliamentary grant.

The church was built in 1831-32 to the design of Francis Bedford of London in a mixture of gothic styles. The original building constructed of Chell and Hollington stone is illustrated below. The church was consecrated on 14th August 1832 by Bishop Ryder. Initially the church was a daughter church of St Margaret's, Wolstanton. A separate parish consisting of Tunstall, Oldcott and Ravenscliffe was created in 1837. The living was in the gift of the Sneyd family until it was transferred c.1890 to the Bishop of Lichfield. The first vicarage house was built in Lynhurst Street with money given by Ralph Sneyd.

The church stood right on the edge of the town. As a result of the development of the surrounding area with new housing and industry the building was subject to considerable pollution. Further problems were caused by a terrible storm in 1860. The spire and pinnacles were struck by lightening and a third of the spire fell to the ground. In 1883 an appeal was made for £3,000 for renovations. These were undertaken between 1885-86 in two stages: first by an eastern extension and secondly by a complete renovation and remodelling of the existing fabric. The design was produced by the local architect A R Wood in the early English gothic style and the extension was built of Alton stone.