[1] Founded in 1869, the church has shared a close relationship with St. Olaf College.

The famous St. Olaf Choir first started at St. John's.

The church was founded by a Norwegian Lutheran minister, Bernt Julius Muus, who founded several other churches as well as St. Olaf College.

St. John's is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The St. John's mission statement reads: