Portuguese missionaries began building the church in 1776.
According to local tradition, the cathedral was built on the site near where Vasco da Gama tied his ships to a large tree while en route to India in 1498.
The church's construction began under Governor Baltasar Manuel Pereira do Lago, but stopped after his death.
Construction resumed under Governor António de Melo e Castro.
It was completed in 1786 and dedicated as the Church of Our Lady of Liberation (Portuguese: Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Livramento).
Its design was reportedly based on the Sé Cathedral in Goa, India.

On 3 August 1943, it was declared a national monument of Portuguese Mozambique, for its historical significance to Zambezia Province, and especially Quelimane.
On 6 October 1954, the Diocese of Quelimane was erected with territory taken from the Diocese of Beira.
That year, Our Lady of Liberation was inaugurated as the diocese's cathedral.
When the New Cathedral of Quelimane was completed, the old cathedral was used by other religious congregations, but gradually fell into disuse and neglect.
As the cathedral became visibly abandoned, it became frequented by criminals, making it dangerous to visit.
It also became home to around ten street children.
Over the years, church officials made efforts to restore the cathedral, but were unable to raise the necessary funds.
All the diocese could afford was the construction of temporary fencing to protect the historic building from intruders.

In 2017, plans were announced to restore the old cathedral by 2018.
In an agreement signed in August 2017 between the Diocese of Quelimane, the owner of the property, and the Bons Sinais Association, a local civic organization, it was intended for the building to be restored for Quelimane's 75-year anniversary as a city.
Per the agreement, the Catholic diocese would retain ownership of the cathedral, which would become a cultural and educational center.
On 19 November 2017, Bishop Hilário da Cruz Massinga estimated the total cost of the restoration project at €500,000.
Portuguese missionaries began building the church in 1776. According to local tradition, the cathedral was built on the site near where Vasco da Gama tied his ships to a large tree while en route to India in 1498. The church's construction began under Governor Baltasar Manuel Pereira do Lago, but stopped after his death. Construction resumed under Governor António de Melo e Castro. It was completed in 1786 and dedicated as the Church of Our Lady of Liberation (Portuguese: Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Livramento). Its design was reportedly based on the Sé Cathedral in Goa, India.
On 3 August 1943, it was declared a national monument of Portuguese Mozambique, for its historical significance to Zambezia Province, and especially Quelimane. On 6 October 1954, the Diocese of Quelimane was erected with territory taken from the Diocese of Beira. That year, Our Lady of Liberation was inaugurated as the diocese's cathedral. When the New Cathedral of Quelimane was completed, the old cathedral was used by other religious congregations, but gradually fell into disuse and neglect. As the cathedral became visibly abandoned, it became frequented by criminals, making it dangerous to visit. It also became home to around ten street children. Over the years, church officials made efforts to restore the cathedral, but were unable to raise the necessary funds. All the diocese could afford was the construction of temporary fencing to protect the historic building from intruders.
In 2017, plans were announced to restore the old cathedral by 2018. In an agreement signed in August 2017 between the Diocese of Quelimane, the owner of the property, and the Bons Sinais Association, a local civic organization, it was intended for the building to be restored for Quelimane's 75-year anniversary as a city. Per the agreement, the Catholic diocese would retain ownership of the cathedral, which would become a cultural and educational center. On 19 November 2017, Bishop Hilário da Cruz Massinga estimated the total cost of the restoration project at €500,000.
Old Cathedral of Quelimane