After the town of Ibaan was separated from Batangas City, the parish was founded in 1832 by Fr. Manuel Grijalbo and was placed under the patronage of Saint James the Apostle.

The construction of the church was started by Fr. Manuel Gonzalez, O.S.A. in 1854 and was completed by Fr. Bruno Laredo in 1869. The church was damaged by the earthquake of May 29, 1880, and Fr. Francisco Alvarez repaired the damage from 1891 to 1896.

However, with the outbreak of the revolution, the Spanish friars left the country. Several Filipino priests took turns in taking care of the parish.

Upon the arrival of the first OSJ missionaries in 1915, the parish was entrusted to Father Eugenio Gherlone, OSJ.He once wrote about Ibaan: "The Catholic community is fervent, assiduous for the church, for the Most Holy Sacrament and responds generously to the little things that the priest is able to do. The great church devoted to St. James, was filled with the faithful during sacred ceremonies, and with the help of the laity, was able to bring the comforts of the faith to the dying in the 25 barrios of the parish."

Today, the church is known for its Easter tradition of Bati and Dagit.