1845 – Arrival of the Capucin
Eight Italian Capuchin priests, forced to leave Georgia, found refuge in Samsun, Turkey. Upon their arrival, they discovered a significant number of Latin Rite Catholics living in the region without a church. These Catholics were not only in Samsun but also in neighbouring Giresun and Trabzon, isolated from their spiritual needs. While the Greeks and Armenians had their own places of worship, the Roman Rite Catholics in these areas were left to fend for themselves.
1851 – Marist Brothers School
In 1851, the French Marist Brothers established a school in Samsun, with the assistance of the Saint Joseph nuns. Around this time, an Italian woman generously donated land to the Capuchin friars, enabling them to build a wooden church and residence. At that period, Christians constituted 30% of Samsun’s population, comprising Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Armenians.
1876 – Sultan Murad
In 1876, Sultan Murad approved the construction of a new church to replace the deteriorating wooden structure. Recognizing the benefits of Christian-Muslim coexistence, the Sultan authorized a small church measuring 8 by 12 meters. Two years later, the church and its land were officially registered and placed under the protection of the French Consulate.