The name of El Tránsito area, located in Paine between Alto Jahuel and Huelquén, comes from the religious celebration honoring the Virgin Mary on August 15.

The church dates back to 1911 and 1915, as a part of construction works made in the El Tránsito Estate, owned by Javier Eyzaguirre Echaurren, a Conservative Party congressman from 1903 to 1918 and heir of this land which in the 18th century belonged firstly to Vicente Egidio García-Huidobro y Morandé, Third Marquis, married to María del Carmen de Aldunate y Larraín. These works were in addition of those made for the main house, which was built when the railway was designed, and the French-style park surrounding both buildings. Traditionally, estate owners were responsible for meeting their workers’ spiritual and religious needs. Therefore, building the church was a part of this responsibility. These lands belonged to the family until 1968, when they were expropriated by the Chilean Government for implementing the Agrarian Reform, a decision the family strongly refused. The church remained standing, and the manor house became an educational institution.

In 1996, in order to preserve both buildings they were officially declared as a National Historic Monument due to their traditional characteristics of rural heritage, as a part of the national identity.

The 2010 earthquake seriously damaged the church and the manor house, preventing their normal use. Thanks to a fundraising initiative by neighbors, private bodies and parents whose children attended the school, the manor house has been restored. San Bernardo diocese, where the church belongs, raised funds for its restoration plan and, together with the National Monument Council, a rescue plan was developed. In 2015, with a procession and a mass, El Tránsito community celebrated the 100th anniversary of the building. Currently, the final stage of the church restoration process is under way. Today, the church belongs to an estate different from that of the manor house.