Wemyss Bay became a parish in its own right on 17th September 1971, when Fr. Vincent Grace took up residence. The whole area was developing and new houses were appearing. Prior to this, it was a mission station existing at Inverkip from 1869 and transferred to Wemyss Bay in 1887, when a neat wooden chapel was formally opened on 28th August, that same year by Archbishop Charles Eyre of Glasgow.

On June 23rd, 1901 the present Church of St. Joseph and St. Patrick, designed by Pugin and built at a cost of 1200 pounds to accommodate 200 parishioners, was formally dedicated. From its inception the mission of Wemyss Bay was served from Largs until the creation of the Diocese of Paisley in 1947 when it came under the control of St. Ninian’s, Gourock. In 1968, Hugh Galllagher was appointed priest-in-charge. On his transfer to St. Columba’s, Renfrew in 1969, Wemyss Bay reverted to St. Andrew’s, Larkfield.

On December 6th 1998, a new parish hall built by Canon Joseph Quinn was dedicated by Bishop John Mone. Over the years, there have been many new housing developments in Wemyss Bay, Inverkip and Skelmolrlie with a huge increase in Catholic population. St. Joseph and St. Patrick is an ever developing community.