Before 1931, Ammembal belonged to the Mogarnad and Fajir parishes. Between 1911 and 1923, a chapel was erected by Fr Francis S. D’Souza. Starting in 1919, church services were held in a that ched hall. Mr. J. F. Rego generously donated the present church site, originally part of his Chelur property, which included a residence for the priest and a makeshift chapel in his bungalow. On January 1, 1932, Bishop Victor Fernandes established the parish, appointing Fr Gaspar S. Lewis as its inaugural priest, who built the presbytery. In 1946, Fr Joseph D’Souza constructed the new church and presbytery. Further additions were made by subsequent priests – Fr Placid Pereira added a new altar, and Fr E. Ligoury Pinto built the church portico in 1963. In 2006, on the church’s Platinum Jubilee, Fr Joseph Machado renovated the building and initiated a Health Fund for the parishioners’ welfare.

Before the school building was constructed by Fr Lewis, educational activities were conducted in Mr J.F. Rego’s bungalow. St. Thomas Higher Primary School in Chelur commenced in 1919, maintaining meticulous attendance records from that time. The current school building was commissioned by Fr Mark Valder and inaugurated on June 9, 1991.