[2] The Catholic Church in Stuart traces its beginnings to August 1871 when a Father Moniahan from Des Moines came to town for the first time to celebrate Mass.

He would come at irregular intervals and Mass was celebrated in school rooms, Shield's Hall, and in private homes.

James Foley was pastor at the time and he built two additions onto the church as well as the rectory during his 24 years at All Saints.

The church was decorated with Italian marble, rare woods, hand painted frescos, gold gilding, and statuary.

The following year the parish became part of the Diocese of Des Moines when it was established in 1911 on the same day that Bishop Keane was named Archbishop of Dubuque.

On August 22, 1995, Charles Willard of Des Moines drove to Stuart and poured gasoline in various places in the church and set it on fire.

Willard had mailed letters to two bishops and a Des Moines television station before he set the fire taking responsibility based on his hatred of the Catholic Church.

In September 1997 the damaged historic church building and property were sold to a group named the Project Restore Foundation for $7,200.

[9] The architects for the restoration project were Kirk Blunck and Jeff Wagner of HLKB in Des Moines and construction was done by Koester in Grimes.

[11] In 2007 Project Restore received a $545,000 grant from Vision Iowa, a state program that provides money for major tourism attractions.

[2] That same year 63% of the citizens of Stuart voted to accept a $1.7 million bond referendum to rebuild the church.

[12] Another $232,000 (as of 2007) in private donations was also raised,[2] A small chapel on the west side of the church and the former sacristy was the first part of the project that was finished in 2002–2003.