The current church replaces an older which was thought to be built towards the end of the 11th century on the site of the house where Saint Gimer was born:

The parish of Saint-Gimer was established in 1840 and when the succursal chapel was built it was felt that a larger building was needed.  There were plans for the construction of aisles to  the left and right, and to lengthen the building from 18m to 28m.

In 1848 it looked as if the chapel would collapse and in 1852 the  commune and the parochial church council abandoned the reconstruction project deciding to build a new church. It was erected on the site of the ancient barbican, the remains of which can be seen behind the church.  Eugène  Viollet Le Duc drew the plans.

The construction began in 1852. The architect intended building a simple but functional church for 60 000 Francs. Due to the terrain major difficulties were encountered as soon as the foundations works began under the entrepreneur Magné. In 1854 Eugène Viollet-Le Duc, encountering opposition from the town, withdrew from the construction and asked Cals, the diocesan architect and his representative, to take over his plans.

In 1857 the town left the construction management to Monseigneur de la Bouillerie who, helped by the dynamic Abbot Bruel, battled to obtain funds and finish the construction.  The church was completed in 1859 under the management of its designer Eugène Viollet Le Duc and was consecrated on 9 June.

The objects from the old church were transferred to the new church.