On August 15, 1856, Fr. Francis Hurth celebrated the first Mass in the region for
54 people at the home of Peter Donnelly. The community that would become
St. Stephen was born. In 1866, the community purchased a building from the
Congregational Society of Anoka. It became the first Catholic church in the Anoka
area. The school began in 1881 and was serviced by the Sisters of Mercy. For a time, it
had both day and boarding students.
A new church was dedicated by Archbishop Ireland on July 21, 1889. The community went
through hard times with crop failures and the closure of the old flour mills. Nevertheless,
they rallied together to reduce parish debt, add three new altars and a new bell for the church
which is one of the four bells in the existing bell tower today.
A new school was built and opened in 1950, ground was broken for the present church in 1969,
and additions to the church were completed in 1999. Over the years, the parish continued to grow.