A small chapel in Dean Road that had belonged previously to the Baptists was acquired in 1849 to cater for the growing population of Bitterne, then in the very large (8,000 acre) parish of South Stoneham. The population continued to increase so plans were made to construct a new church on land awarded to the Vicar of South Stoneham under the Enclosure Act of 1814. The foundation stone was laid on the 19th July 1852, and the new church was consecrated on the 23rd September 1853 by the Bishop of Winchester and named ‘The Church of the Holy Saviour, Bitterne’.
The architect was George Guillaume, and the building was erected by William Gambling of Northam Road. It consisted of a central aisle (the nave) and the north aisle, with a broached spire 110 feet high. The Reverend Henry Usborne was installed as the first Vicar and the cost, of about £3,100, was raised by subscription, but chiefly contributed to by Usborne, his sisters and friends.
The South Aisle was added in 1887 by Messrs Chapman of Alma Road, Woolston. The clock, known as the Hoyes Memorial Clock, was given by Sir Stewart Macnaghten in memory of Miss Janet Hoyes, of Yewtree Cottage, Mousehole Lane. For many years its opal face was illuminated by gas until electricity arrived. There is a single bell of 1.75 hundredweight.
In 1888 the gallery over the west door, the original site of the organ, was removed. In 1890 a new organ from Byfleet, Surrey, was installed by Henry Willis & Son Ltd. In 1885 the church was extended by building a South Aisle paid for by Usborne.
Over the years the church has grown and in 1990-91 a Church Room was attached to the south aisle, constructed by Shering Builders.
In 2023/24 an extension was built on the south side of the church joining to new rooms within the rear of the nave to enable more outreach programs. Both consist of two floors with meeting rooms, sports-room, hall, toilets, and kitchen. This necessitated the removal of the pews so the church now features removable chairs and a flat floor. This is one of the many changes that have been made to this church over the years to meet the needs of the times.
The church is Grade II listed.