The project was overseen by master builders Ignacio Díaz de los Reyes (d. 1748), Juan de Pina (d. 1778), and Miguel de Olivares, who worked under the direction of Torcuato Cayón de la Vega. Only the tower remains of the previous church, which was demolished in 1695. In addition to the bell tower, it houses a unique ratchet mechanism, the only one of its kind in the country.The desire was for a large and beautiful church, one that would rival those already existing in the city, such as San Miguel and Santiago, and that would be worthy of one day becoming a cathedral. In 1580 and 1781, petitions were submitted to the Crown from Jerez for the establishment of a new bishopric in the city. However, it wasn't until 1980 that this long-held wish was finally fulfilled.