The congregation was established in 1904 when a series of special mission services was held in the Hilton Road Hall.

In February 1906 Judge TR Bennett, the owner of the Quarry, donated land for the Church. A Vestry meeting was held in April 1906 and it was decided to build a Church costing not more than £1,200 and seating not less than 220 people.

The architectural firm of Messrs. Baker, Massay and Sloper of Johannesburg was approached and Mr Herbert Baker attended a meeting at St Anne’s on 22 May 1906 and presented his plans for the Church. The estimated cost was £1,160, which could be reduced to £1,110 by calling for tenders. An important decision was taken on 25 July 1906 to build in red brick rather than hollow concrete blocks. Mr T A Servant was awarded the contract, and work was to be completed in 24 weeks. The Council met with the builder to mark out the foundations. Judge Bennett donated the stone for the foundations and work began in December 1906. Advertisements in the Natal Witness and Times of Natal announced that Bishop Frederick Samuel Baines would lay the foundation stone on 6 December 1906.

Before building began the Committee decided the costs would be too high, and approached Mr Baker. His solution was to reduce the overall length of the walls, building 5 instead of 6 buttresses.

The building was completed by the end of April 1907 and it was dedicated by Bishop Baines on 9 May 1907, Ascension Day, hence the name “Church of the Ascension”.

The Natal Witness reported the event:

“Many people from the settlements in the neighbourhood took part in the ceremony, going to Hilton by road and rail. About a dozen clergy were present to assist the Bishop. The service was of an ordinary character, but the congregation was large. The altar was beautifully decorated, but the Church itself looked somewhat plain. His Lordship preached a most impressive service, which was received with every mark of attention.”

St Anne’s Diocesan College and Hilton College had close associations with the Church of the Ascension. St Anne’s girls made up half the congregation, their choir sang at services and at one time the Headmistress who was ex-officio on the Parish Council also ran the Sunday School.