Before St. Bartholomew was established, getting to church was difficult for people in the
area. During the summer, many took the boat across the lake and then went by streetcar
to a church in Hopkins or Excelsior. Others went by horse and buggy to Holy Name of Jesus in
Medina. Weather conditions in the winter often made it impossible to get to church for weeks
at a time. In 1916, twelve families came together and envisioned a parish of their own and on
October 8, 1916, the cornerstone for a small, white stucco church was laid.
Through ice cream socials, bazaars, church dinners, card parties and festivals, the members of
the community painstakingly raised funds to provide for the parish. Five years later, in October
1921, the community was debt free. A new rectory was built in 1941, and a convent and school
followed in 1955. The school was staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame who enriched the
community through their devotion to quality education and sacramental preparation.
As St. Bartholomew grew, a new church was erected in 1989. The entire campus was expanded
and renewed in 2007, allowing the community better to fulfill the varied mission that Christ
entrusted to his Church: to worship, to teach, and to serve.