The Innerberger Hauptgewerkschaft in Eisenerz assumed the costs for the construction of the church and later also took over the patronage. The laying of the foundation stone for the church took place on June 30, 1773. The foundation of the parish took place even before the completion of the church, on August 16, 1774 in the basilica of Mariazell in the presence of Abbot Berthold von St.Lambrecht and K. K. Ober Guberialrath Freiherr von Hölleg and Oberkammergraf Edler von Gruber of the Innerberger Hauptgewerkschaft.
On September 21, 1777 the church was consecrated to St. John in the Desert. In 1774 a bell weighing three hundredweight was purchased. In 1820 the church received a four hundredweight bell, also cast in Steyr. In 1914 the church had four bells. During the First World War three of them had to be delivered. Thorough renovations took place in 1856 and 1932.
Especially in the years from 1845 to 1860, thanks to considerable donors, many church utensils could be purchased, such as flags, carpets, candlesticks and vestments. Generous benefactors were, for example, Archduke Johann and his wife Anna Plochl, Duke of Bordeaux, Duke Robert of Parma, Prince Henry of Bobon, Duke of Modena, Countess Szechengi of Hungary, Countess of Morsin. The 14 Stations of the Cross were donated in 1849 by the forest keeper Johann Gollner.
The former parish church has been a branch church of the parish of Gußwerk since 2000.