There was objection by some local people to the building of a Catholic Church in Ardrossan. The clergy in the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Saltcoats was not fully in favour of Ardrossan having its own Church. As a result, little progress was made.

Frustrated at not having a church on land bought for that purpose, a delegation from Ardrossan and Saltcoats went to Glasgow to speak to Archbishop Donald Mackintosh in about 1931. The group included Bessie Brown neé Tonner (1886-1950), Andrew McCarroll (1885-1967), Catherine McGrattan neé Heaney (1878-1969), Michael Reilly, Margaret Ann Shanks neé Byers (1870-1966) and Katherine Shearer (1854-1943). They stated their case and the Archbishop listened attentively. On their return, they reported to Father Francis Stephen (1870-1932), Parish Priest of the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Saltcoats. Father Stephen was displeased that they had spoken to the Archbishop without his prior knowledge. Father Stephen died in December 1932 and was succeeded in 1933 by Father Joseph Doherty (1879-1964) from the Church of Saint Mary, Star of the Sea, Largs. The delegation to Glasgow was not in vain because shortly after his appointment, Father Doherty was instructed by the Archbishop to arrange the building of a Church in Ardrossan.