Established during the Spanish colonial period, St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in Pagbilao, Quezon was formally organized by Franciscan missionaries in 1685, marking the early beginnings of Pagbilao as a Christian settlement. By 1688, a chapel made of light materials such as wood and cogon was already in place.

Over time, the settlement gradually shifted to its present location, guided by devotion to its patroness, Catherine of Alexandria. By 1730, the parish had become more firmly established. The transition from a simple chapel to a more permanent structure came much later, reflecting both the growth of the town and the need for a more durable place of worship.

The stone church that stands today began construction in 1845. This marked a significant phase in the architectural and historical development of the parish, as the community invested in a structure built to last. The church, along with its convent and bell tower, was completed in 1877.

Like many heritage churches in the Philippines, it did not remain untouched by the upheavals of history. The structure was damaged during the Liberation in 1945, a reminder that even places of worship were not spared from the impacts of war. In 1954, the church underwent reconstruction under Padre Vicente Urlanda, restoring it as a center of faith for the community.

Catherine of Alexandria is traditionally believed to have lived in the early fourth century in Alexandria, Egypt. She is remembered as a learned and courageous young woman who defended her Christian faith before the Roman emperor. According to tradition, she engaged in a public debate with pagan philosophers and was able to convert many through her arguments. Refusing to renounce her faith, she was sentenced to death, and her story became widely known in Christian devotion. She is often depicted with a wheel, symbolizing the instrument associated with her martyrdom, and is regarded as the patron saint of scholars, students, and those seeking wisdom.