With the founding of the village of Kathryn, when the Casselton-Marion branch of the railroad was built, a goodly number of Lutheran families settled in and near the village.
Pastor H. O. Nordby of the Sheyenne Valley Church had been ministering to the citizens on an individual and family basis. On January 18, 1903 he called a meeting of those interested in the Thoreson-Olson Hall, over the employment business. Eight individuals responded, and a church was organized called "The St. Paul's Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church." Mc sings were held in the Thoreson Hall and various ministers served the congregation, including The
In 1910 the church was incorporated and plans were made to build a church building. Frank Lynch donated the site and work started on a concrete basement. The cornerstone was laid in June, 1914, and the building was soon completed. In 1916 a cemetery site was purchased.
The membership has grown from eight to over 150 baptized members.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 304