Built to honor Saint Roch, who cared for people who came down with the plague during the pilgrimage. It was not long before this loving care giver came down with the plague himself. He retired to the wilderness to die where he was befriended by a dog which brought him scraps of food begged from his master’s table. Miraculously, near where Roch was lying, water came up from the soil and through this nourishment, he recovered from near death when an Angle appeared and cared for him until his death.

A yellow fever epidemic struck Cartagena and the church was ordered to honor Saint Roch. Construction of the church was completed in 1674.