The South Wild Rice Congregation was made up of Norwegian immigrants who arrived in the area in the early 1870s.

In October 1873 the first annual meeting of the congregation was held, at which it was decided to reserve a 2 acre-parcel of land, found on Section 32, Range 48, Township 134, for religious purposes.

[4] St. John's was built in 1883, with the bell tower having been added in 1897, it was listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

[1][4] The church's listing on the National Register was based on its connection with the first wave of Norwegian Lutheran settlers in the region, the early settlement of southeastern North Dakota, and its retention of "greater integrity than any other church building in the region.

Although regular services are no longer held, the church build and grounds are maintained by the descendants of these pioneers.