Originally a hamlet within Chesham parish, its toponym is derived from the Old English for Ash Field, referring to the forest that once covered this part of the Chiltern Hills.

Anglican services started in the village school in 1872, led by Rev Pratt, vicar of St Mary's Chesham.

[2] The Church is built of local knapped black flints with Bath stone dressings.

There is a boiler house, and the church was originally being heated by "Hayden's hot air apparatus", now disused.

The porch is on the Northern side of the building the front of which is an oak moulded archway, the timber being framed in red bricks - herringboned.

St. John's has stained glass windows from various makers including Burlison and Grylls, Kempe and Co., James Powell and Sons, C.E.

In keeping with the tradition of the original builders, a time capsule that included a newspaper and a photograph of the congregation was buried under the floor of the kitchen.

On the junction of Chesham Road and Hog Lane the corner house used to be a shop and post office.