St. Helena Catholic Church, which was designed in the style of a medieval English parish church, stands on the site of the original Catholic Church in St. Helena, a wooden church built in 1866. It is the only church in Napa County built entirely of stone.

Napa Valley pioneers prized stone buildings for their beauty, strength and durability. Many early settlers in the upper valler had emigrated from wine regions in Europe and were skilled stone masons. They emulated the architectural styles of home while adding touches which made these buildings unique to Napa Valley.

Source: Adapted from the NRHP nomination submitted in 1978.