St. Anne’s Church was built on the site of a chapel constructed in 1787 by Rose Nesbit, an Armenian lady. The chapel built by the Nesbit family was called Igreja da Senhora Santa Anna, named after the mother of Mary. In the 19th century, the Jesuits renamed it Saint Anne’s Church.
On July 31st, 1887, coinciding with the Feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, Saint Annes was formally recognized as a parish. Saint Anne is traditionally believed to be the mother of the Virgin Mary, and thus the grandmother of Jesus.
The panel above the altar at Our Lady of the Rosary church features a copy of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" mural, which was created between 1495 and 1498 and kept in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. The painting represents the scene of the Last Supper of Jesus with the Twelve Apostles, as told in the Gospel of John.
The dimension and height of the church was increased to make space for large congregations. It is said that the ceiling of the church was elevated in order to construct a balcony with benches for parishioners. However, due to insufficient funds, this was left undone.
During the vicarship of Stanislaus Pereira (1953-1974), Our Lady of the Rosary church underwent a comprehensive interior and exterior refurbishment to give it a more contemporary look.
Our Lady of the Rosary church features Stations of the Cross. The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, are a series of scenes depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion. The Stations of the Cross are tied to the Christian themes of repentance and mortification of the flesh.
Between 1924-25, the church was extended to accommodate the increasing number of people. The church was completely remodelled during the Vicarship of Msgr. Stanislaus Pereira to give it a modern appearance.
The year of consecration of Our Lady of the Rosary Church on Dockyard Road, Mazagaon, is inscribed on the outer wall. In 1794, this new church was built a few metres away from the old Gloria Church, which till 1794 was the only church in Mazagaon.
The wrought iron grilles on the boundary wall were installed in 1860 with the marking NRS, which stands for Nossa Senhora do Rosario, or “Our Lady of the Rosary”.