As the parish of St.Cleopas grew, a temporary (iron) church was erected in Beaufort Street at the corner of Yates Street. This was known as St. Mary's (Iron) Church (later St. Gabriel's (Iron) Church).

The rapidly increasing population made this inadequate within five years and a new church was thus commisioned.

The foundation stone of St. Gabriel's Church was laid on the 8th October 1883 by the Mayor of Liverpool, William Radcliffe. It was consecrated on the 18th October 1884.

In 1883, Mrs. Ann Turner, widow of Liverpool Cotton Merchant, JP and MP, Charles Turner, donated £1,500 towards the building costs and she covered the cost of the tower, another £900.

The 'Liverpool Daily Post' 28th Jan 1946 states 'For a decade the church was 'high', but when the Reverend J. E. Houghton became vicar, in 1894, it became, and remained thereafter, Evangelical.'

St. Gabriel's was badly damaged by enemy action in May 1941 and remained closed until 1943 when repairs enabled services to be resumed in the crypt. It was restored and was re-hallowed on the 29th September 1946 by the Bishop of Liverpool, Dr. Clifford Martin.   Closure is reputed to have occurred in 1962 however the church is open for worship still.