It is not certain if St. Brigid or St. Patrick is the patron saint of this church. A bell erected for Jubilee Year 1950 names St. Patrick as the patron saint.
The church was built in 1844. The Parish was divided into Upper and Lower from the 1790s until the 1860s.

Carrickallen Church was extended in 1859, to form the cruciform shape it still has. Two priests are buried in the church: Fr. Anthony Smith, a native of the area and also the curate, died on 31st October 1862 and Fr. Peter McCann, also a native (Tullyinchin), and CC Killinagh, died on 9th March 1878.

Fr. Anthony’s Well beside the church was for many decades a place of pilgrimage. Named after Fr. Anthony Smith CC, a very holy priest, its waters were thought to have curative powers. The well was restored in Jubilee Year 2000.