Between Malaya Lubyanka Street and Milyutinsky Lane stands a church that has remained active since its opening and is the oldest of the surviving Catholic churches in Moscow.

In the 18th century, the land on which the church stands was owned successively by Toeva, her sister Princess Nesvitskaya, second lieutenant Lobkov, prosecutor Bakhmetyeva, and partially by Protasyevs. The French community rented this territory and in 1791 built a wooden church here in honor of Saint Louis, the French King Louis IX, who lived in the 13th century and died in a crusade, which likely made him the patron saint of the French in Moscow.

In 1806, the church purchased the land, and in 1833 and 1836, a new stone church was erected according to the design of architect Alexander Zhilyardi. The building, in the shape of a basilica with a semi-circular apse, is adorned with a six-column Tuscan portico and small bell towers. The construction was financed through donations from parishioners and a loan of 50,000 rubles provided by the Russian government on favorable terms. The church was consecrated on June 17, 1849, as evidenced by a marble plaque in the altar.

One of the first rectors was Abbot Adrien Surug, who had significant influence over the Moscow aristocracy, many of whom converted to Catholicism in this church. In 1812, when Napoleon captured Moscow, Surug refused to meet with him and saved the church from looting by confronting the marauders with a crucifix in hand.

In the early years of Soviet power, the rector was Frenchman Jean-Marie Vidal, who was forced to leave the country after several months in prison. Services continued thanks to priests from the neighboring Church of St. Peter and Paul.

In 1925, Jesuit Michel d’Erbin arrived in Moscow on a secret Vatican mission to conduct a bishop's ordination to revive the Catholic hierarchy in the country. The first bishop was Pius Eugene Neveu, who came from southern Russia.

Since 1938, the Church of St. Louis has remained the only active Catholic church in Moscow, and its rector, American Father Leopold Brown, was the only Catholic priest.

Today, services are held in many languages, including Russian. The congregation consists of Polish and Lithuanian residents of Moscow and embassy staff. A Sunday school operates at the church.

In 2017 and 2018, renovation and restoration work was carried out, during which the crosses and cross apples were updated, the white stone and brick masonry, decorative plaster elements were restored, and the plaster layer on the facades was recreated. The roof, drainage systems, and window sills were also repaired, and the interiors were restored.

In 2018, the Church of St. Louis became a laureate of the "Moscow Restoration" competition in the categories for the best organization of renovation and restoration work, the best restoration and adaptation project, as well as for high-quality workmanship.