The Jesuits' presence in the city of Lorca dates back to the 16th century. However, it was not until the 17th century that they settled for good at the same time a house-college was founded. In 1698, they counted on the support of the authorities from Lorca to establish it since they were granted a license to found a College. The process started in 1713, when they established in the place that was later took up by the hermit of Saint Augustine. This hermit was created in 1674 when the earthquake lived in Lorca on the day of Saint Augustine stopped. The council gave that space to the Society but it stayed small for the tasks and parishioners of the Order over time. They carried out a work, constructing a Jesuit church known as the old church of San Mateo (Saint Matthew). There is nothing left of the original church, which would have been placed at the space which is now taken up by the food market. This temple was abandoned over time and destroyed in 1799 to build a most spacious one in its current location. The expulsion of Jesuits paralyzed its construction and, some years later, it was stopped due to the lack of resources. The church was connected to the School and the residence. The school worked on the free literacy and the Latinity. It counted on two chairs of 100 ducats each when it was opened, formed by a basic education teacher and a grammar teacher. No further information about the College's development has been found. It was closed due to the Pragmatic Sanction published by Charles III (1759-1788).