The church of Santiago Apostle, of modern style, has its origins in an old chapel built by the founders of Santiago de la Ribera next to their seaside residence, which in 1968 became a parish. In addition to the scenes and images represented inside, the façade is adorned with crosses in honor of the apostle.

In the year 1988, Santiago de la Ribera celebrated its 100th anniversary. The founders of the town, Mr. José María Barnuevo (a member of the Order of Santiago ) and Mrs. Teresa Sandoval, commissioned the construction of their "hotel" or new residence on a plot by Santiago de la Ribera beach. The architectural plans were completed in 1905. At the same time, they also commissioned a project for the construction of a chapel attached to the gardens of their home, dedicated to the apostle Santiago.

This chapel was built in the style of the time and housed the images of Santiago and the Virgin of Carmen, the patron saint of sailors. It aslo had a reserved place for the Barnuevo family in a chapel-mausoleum where the mortal remains of the founders and their relatives are still interred today. The worship at the chapel was conducted by the priests from San Javier, and in the summer, the Barnuevo family would bring in religious clergy to assist with the religious activities, which increased with the arrival of vacationers. As the population grew, the Chapel was significantly expanded, and a new Chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Carmen was added. This Chapel, which had become too small, was upgraded to a parish on July 1, 1968, during the tenure of Bishop Don Miguel Roca Cabanellas as the diocese's bishop. Just three days later, the memorandum for the construction project of the new church was signed. Two years later, on May 7, 1970, Bishop Miguel Roca blessed the new church: the "Parish of Santiago Apostle" in Santiago de la Ribera. 

Since 2018, it has also been the headquarters of the Brotherhood of the Holy Solitude of Mar Menor, housing its unique sculpture that is paraded during Holy Week in Santiago de la Ribera.