To Mrs. B. W. Benson, the wife of the first land agent in Valley City, belongs the honor of holding the first Episcopal Services in Barnes County. The Rev. Andrew J. Graham of Fargo found Mrs. Benson conducting an Episcopalian Sunday School in her home when he arrived in Valley City (lately Worthington) in 1878. A second church service was held that year by The Rev. E. Steele Peake of Moorhead, Minnesota.

With the arrival of the Reverend Herbert Root in 1880, who came to start Valley City's first bank, interest in building a church building grew. Reverend Root and his wife donated several lots and a certain amount of money. Collections were taken among the faithful and a native stone church was built in 1881. Dedicatory services were held on May 28, 1882. Parish status was granted December 27, 1882. The Rev. Peake was hired as the pastor and he remained until Easter, 1884.

All Saints' Episcopal Church is the only church of that faith built in North Dakota entirely by the local congregation and is the oldest church building in Barnes County still in use.

In 1884 a bitter conflict between the Herbert Root family and the Parish broke out. Under the Reverend S. H. Woodford, the dispute came to a head - shotguns appeared - Woodford chopped his way into the church, Root was thrown bodily from the church - charge - countercharges - arrests and finally the arrival of the Bishop to set things straight - and the general public's disgust at the antics of the Reverend Herbert Root, erstwhile disfavored pastor at Brainard, Minnesota.

Since that time, the history of All Saints' has been one of steady service and growth. A parish hall was added about 1900, a sacristy-office and air-conditioning in 1974.

Parish size remains constant and the congregation makes up in spirit what it may lack in size.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 297