The parish of Saint-Hilaire was founded in 1869. Prior to that, it was part of the Sainte-Luce parish, which also served the area across the Saint John River, now known as Frenchville, Maine. 

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At the time, parishioners had to cross the river by canoe to attend church, a journey that could be dangerous. The Ashburton-Webster Treaty of 1842, which divided the Madawaska region between Canada and the United States, increased the need for a local church in Saint-Hilaire. 

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The first church, built on the current cemetery site, was completed in 1895 and served Baker-Brook, Saint-Hilaire, and as far as Verret. The current church was built in 1926, and the original one was demolished the same year.