King Kamehameha IV (Alexander Liholiho) and his wife, Queen Emma, were devout followers of the Church of England. The royal couple decided to build a French Gothic cathedral of their own, and imported the sandstone for the building from the English countryside. Although the King died on St. Andrew's Day in 1863, the cornerstone wasn't placed until 1867 by his successor, King Kamehameha V. The great 20 x 50-foot window on the Ewa (west) side of the building is one of the largest stained glass windows ever created in the United States. In the lower right corner is a likeness of Liholiho and Emma.

The church is open weekdays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Visitors are welcome. Free organ concerts are held at noon on Fridays. Guided tours are available Sundays following services. Sunday Hawaiian Mass is at 8:00 a.m.; Choral Eucharist at l0:00 a.m. Located at Beretania and Queen Emma streets in downtown Honolulu.