This Catholic church has its origins in a plank-and-attap (thatched roof) chapel built in 1846 by Father Anatole Maudit in Kranji. The chapel served a small Catholic community of immigrant farmers from China.
In 1852-53, Father Mauduit built the Church of St Joseph in Upper Bukit Timah to replace the old Kranji chapel. The church was rebuilt in 1905. The majority of parishioners (about 300 people) were Catholic farmers from southern China.
The church was rebuilt again in 1965 by Father Joachim Teng. Following the development of the surrounding areas and Bukit Panjang Town, the congregation increased to several thousand people.
The Feast of St Joseph on the first Sunday of May is an annual celebration attracting crowds of ‘pilgrims' from all over Singapore and beyond. Making use of its spacious grounds, the church has installed a life-size replica of the Stations of the Cross in Lourdes, France. This feature, unique in Singapore, attracts Catholics all over the island for devotions during Holy week.