The population influx associated with the new Standard Oil Company refinery had many effects on Mandan. Membership in St. Joseph's Church parish reached more than 6,500 in 1958–1959, an unheard-of size for the region and an unworkable number for effective pastoral ministry. It was time for Mandan to establish a second Catholic parish.
St. Joseph's pastor Aloyius Galowitsch held a kickoff meeting on August 8, 1957. He asked members of the community to donate one day's wages per month for 30 months. Land in northwest Mandan was acquired from Dr. William Neff and Clem Albers. Bernard Hillyer of Bismarck, who designed many churches in the diocese, was selected as project architect. Lund Construction won the contract for the church and school.
Even with parishioners providing as much labor as possible, the new complex cost $500,000 (about $5,580,000 in 2025 dollars). Christ the King was a large parish from the beginning, with approximately 500 families, and Monsignor Galowitsch became its first pastor.
Work on the school progressed quickly, and six rooms were ready for classes in fall 1958. A multipurpose room served as the parish's worship space until the church was completed. Christ the King Church was dedicated on April 28, 1959. Bishop Lambert Hoch of Sioux Falls, formerly of Bismarck, was the celebrant, and Bishop Hilary Hacker of Bismarck performed the blessing. Monsignor Galowitsch served as pastor of Christ the King for 12 years.
Christ the King School was enlarged twice during the 1960s. The 1966 addition included a gymnasium, cafeteria, and kitchen. The school remained vigorous throughout the 1970s as other Catholic schools declined. Enrollment was still 435 in 1984, making it by far the largest Catholic elementary school in the state.
The Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Priory taught at Christ the King School from its beginning. Because Christ the King never had a convent, they lived downhill at St. Joseph's Convent. The number of sisters gradually declined until they withdrew completely during the 1970s. The school then had an entirely lay faculty.
Father John Kuhn became pastor in 1970 and carried forward the reforms mandated by the Second Vatican Council. The church sanctuary was renovated in 1980 to better accommodate Mass celebrated facing the congregation.