The Cathedral Car of North Dakota was built in 1890 for William D. Walker, the first Episcopalian bishop of North Dakota. It served as a chapel for small destitute towns and as bishop's seat until 1896.
Walker resigned in 1896 and went back to New York. About 1898-1899 the car was brought to Carrington where it remained to two years. "Carrington had a fairly established congregation but not enough money to build a church. The cathedral car was to remain there until the congregation could build a chapel."
An ornamental window pictured at the central top of the car was not real, but was placed on the car and not built into it.
The altar work in the car was later salvaged and placed in an Episcopalian church at Guelph.
A cabinet pump organ was placed in the center of the car, possibly because it wasn't loud enough to be placed at one end. While stationed in Carrington, it is believed local persons provided the music.
Other than the altar work, the car looked like an ordinary railroad car. Seating was provided by straight back chairs, not pews.
In 1901 the Carrington Episcopalian congregation had raised enough money to build a church which was located across the street from the Congregational Church. The congregation eventually faded away and the church is no longer standing.
At one time according to Leon Galehouse, Jr., Episcopalian services were held in Carrington in a small car pulled by horses, known as "The Church on Wheels." A Rev. Smith officiated at these services. The interior of the car resembled a chapel, but couldn't hold many people as it was about the size of old cook cars.
Although the dates that this pull-car was used were not available, it could possibly have been used from 1896 to about 1898 during the time the cathedral car was in storage before it came to Carrington.
April 7, 1899 issue of the Carrington Record reports that Episcopalian services were held at the M.D. (Methodist-Episcopalian) with Rev. J.H. Sheridan officiating.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 240