One of the first churches to formally organize in Barnes County was the Scandinavian Lutheran Church, later known as the First Lutheran Church.
On October 26, 1879 the Congregation was organized. Rev. C. I. Wold was called as the first pastor, a Sunday School was organized, and it was decided that they would not affiliate with any particular church organization. However, the name was changed prior to 1883 to the "Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church."
A church was built in 1882 by Mathias Olson and P. O. King, and a parsonage south of the church constructed later.
Rev. J. G. D. Bothne, Rev. J. H. Brano and Rev. O. K. Anderson served the church until 1886, when the Rev. H. Langeland became the regular pastor until 1891.
In 1897 the question of Woman's Suffrage arose and it was decided that all members 21 years of age, irrespective of sex, could vote. On January 25, 1910, the congregation accepted the principles of the Lutheran Free Church. In 1926 the name was changed to the First Lutheran Church of Valley City.
In October of 1947, a decision was made to build a new church and on June 26 and 27, 1954, the seventy-fifth anniversary services and dedication of the new building took place. Later, in the 1960s, the church merged with the American Lutheran Church.
The Rev. Warren O. Schulz serves the congregation at the present time.
Original Holy Trinity Catholic Church located northeast of Fingal, N.D. Struck by lightning, it burned. Not shown was the Catholic school.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 299