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 onOctober 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.