The history of the parish really begins in 1847 when Bishop William Dollard blessed Saint William's Church in St. Martin's. This was the main church.  Father Andrew Barron, the first parish priest, also served mission churches in Black River, Upham, Little River, Loch Lomond, Saddleback.  In 1950, a forest fire destroyed Saint William's Church and over 50 homes.  Saint William's Church was rebuilt in 1901 and blessed by Bishop Timothy Casey, with the pastor Father Michael Coughlan.

With the decline of wooden shipbuilding, and an increasing population in the Loch Lomond area, St. Joseph's Church was built and became the main parish church. St. Martin's Church became a mission church along with Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Upham, and Saint Patrick's Church in Black River.