Here, in a small whare on the banks of the Waipa River, the original Catholic mission to this area was founded. Father Pompallier left Ngaruawahia ahead of the advancing British troops in 1863.

It was not until after the Waikato Wars that the first Catholic church was officially built in Herschel Street in 1872. Up to this time Ngaruawahia was serviced from Rangiaowhia by Father Laurence Viney who made use of Pompallier’s original Whare.
Although established at this time, it would not be until 1903 that there was a resident priest at the parish. Up to this time Ngaruawahia had been serviced by Fathers Alcock, Luck, Fox, and Amandoline from Hamilton.
The first resident Priest was Father Charles O’Gallagher and he was replaced in 1904 by Father George Wüst, who died in 1905. He is buried in the Ngaruawahia cemetery. Jeremiah Cahill was parish priest 1906-1913. 

On the 16th November 1913, Saint Paul’s Catholic Church as we know it today was opened. After Father Cahill, the priests lived in Huntly until 1940, when the two parishes were separated.