In 1880, Alfred County in Southern Natal was the newest County in the Colony of Natal. It was still very sparsely populated and there was a need to have the land productively used by farmers. The government had promised the few settlers there that a harbour would be developed to facilitate their communication with markets in the rest of Natal.

A Colonisation Scheme was inaugurated to bring in settlers from Europe and contact was made with prospective immigrants in and around Sunmore and Aalesund in Norway. Fifty farms were surveyed for the Norwegians, but on the day of departure only 34 families of the 50 selected were ready to leave their homeland.

On August 29 1882, 229 Norwegians landed at the mouth of the Umzimkulu River by lighter drawn in by the S.S. Somtseu, and were taken by ox-wagon to their allotments.

Each farm was 100 acres and the Church was assigned "Lot 17" of a similar size. Rev. Emil Berg, their pastor, came with them and a service was held on the hillside on Lot 17 on the first Sunday after their arrival. Pastor Berg preached from Luke 12:32: "Fear not, little flock, for the Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom."

The original Church, built of mud bricks (and later encased in fired bricks), was dedicated on the first anniversary of the landing and is currently the oldest serving Church in Southern Natal.

The Church was used as a schoolroom for the children until the adjoining School Hall was built in 1896. The children needed to know English, and so they were educated in English under the supervision of the Natal Department of Education. The Norwegian School was supported by all the children in the district and functioned from 1884 to 1912, and went from Grade 1 to Grade 9. The benches on the Church verandah were made from the tops of the old school desks as evidenced by the inkwell holes in the seats. The settlers were poor and were given a government grant to pay the teacher's salary. It thus became the first non-fee-paying school in Natal.

In the early years, many men worked in the gold mines to raise money to develop their farms and to build proper houses. Others were employed on the harbour works. Still others moved away and plied their trades in many parts of South Africa. A few returned to Norway, but many remained in the district and contributed to the growth of Port Shepstone and the surrounding areas.

The names of the Settlers are recorded on a marble plaque in the original Church, now referred to as "The Chapel" that is open every day and is still in constant use, in spite of being replaced by the much larger and more modern "Sanctuary" in 1999.

The Settlers Cemetry adjoining the Church bears testimony to many of the men, women and children who considered the Norwegian Settlers Church their spiritual home.

Through the years, the Church has observed the 29th August as a special Day of Thanksgiving, and has on many occasions drawn together descendants of settlers from many parts of South Africa and from other countries.

In 2007, August 29th marked the 125th anniversary of the arrival of the Norwegian Setttlers and was celebrated by the whole Church community.