St. John’s Church is located inside the Vellore Fort, Tamil Nadu State, India.

The Church was raised in 1846 by the Government of Madras for the officers and men of the East India Company military station.

In 1780, during Second Anglo-Mysore War, Vellore Fort fell into the Hands of Hyder Ali, and was restored back to British Rule in 1784.

[1][7] In 1792, William Harcourt Torriano, civil representative of the Madras Government and friend of Schwarz, helped raise a new church building with his own expenses at the Vellore Fort, for the use of both Europeans and the native Indians.

[1][8] The Directors of the East India Company resolved Vellore to be one of the 7 military stations where a permanent chaplain would be appointed.

The Government decided in view of changed circumstances only a small church be built at lower expense at the Vellore Fort (p. 624-p. 625).

[1][6] In 1837, Rev W Tomes, Chaplain of the Company recommended that the old Tarriano's Chapel be repaired (re-roofed) for use of the European congregation, and the estimate was Rs.

[1] In 1837, the Public Rooms, located with the Vellore Fort and owned and managed by the officers of the military station, were hired by the Company, for the purpose of holding church services on Sundays, for a monthly rent of Rs.

[1] In 1844, the new church building plan was sanctioned by the Madras Government, and raised within the Vellore Fort in 1846, with a seating capacity of 280 people (p. 74).

When Rev J B Trend served at this church between 1874 and 1879, the sanctuary was refurbished with carved wood, silk needlework, harmonium, brass ornaments, all donated by the congregation (p. 628).

The altar plate of the church, inscribed with the coat was arms was presented by the East India Company, of which only the paten now remains (p. 629).

[1] The old colours of the 10th Madras Infantry are deposited in the church, before it was converted into a Burmese Battalion, with a brass plate inscription recording the event (p. 629).