The church was founded in 1795 at Chulkovo Cemetery. Its construction was completed six years later, and in 1801 the church was consecrated and opened as a cemetery and non-parochial church. Initially, it was intended for the Feast of the Holy Spirit, but it was consecrated in honor of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica. This happened because on the day of the Holy Spirit, local residents held noisy celebrations, which did not suit the Orthodox diocese. To separate the church holiday from the pagan one, it was decided to move the feast day to a later date. Until 1808, the church had no rector, and a priest from the Church of the Nativity of Christ was invited to conduct services.

In the 1820s, a refectory and a bell tower in the classical style were added to the church. In 1828, two chapels were established: the Nativity of John the Baptist and the Apostles Peter and Paul. Later, a church parish school was opened.

The main relics of the church include the Jerusalem cross and an ark with a particle of the relics of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica, an icon with a particle of the relics of the Holy Martyrs of Bethlehem, and a statue-icon of St. Nicholas of Mozhaisk.

The parish of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica was formed only in 1866 when part of the Chulkovo settlement was allocated for the church.

During the Soviet era, the church was closed twice: in 1924 and from 1940 to 1946. Until the 1980s, the church of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica remained one of the four functioning churches in Tula. Since 1991, the church building has been protected by the state as a monument of history and culture of regional significance.

Since 2005, a Sunday school for children has been operating at the church, where clergy, the church choir director, and Sunday school teachers teach. Since 2007, a Sunday school for adults with a catechetical focus has been in operation.