The previous timber church, built in 1876, remained on the site in a modified form as part of a former parish hall, until it was demolished in February 2003.

[1] The site of St John's Church is part of a continuing tradition of Anglican worship established during the first years of European settlement on the Darling Downs, which began in 1840.

At this time (prior to the separation of Queensland) the Darling Downs were part of New South Wales and fell within the Diocese of Newcastle.

[2] The energetic Reverend Benjamin Glennie succeeded him and his first service on the Downs was held in the parlour of the Bull's Head Inn at Drayton in 1848, there being no church.

He laid the foundations of a parochial system on the Downs by establishing congregations, buying strategic sites and building churches.

The Western railway line reached Dalby in 1868 and it grew in importance as the railhead for the surrounding pastoral and agricultural industries.

In 1859, the government granted a two-acre block of land at the corner of Cunningham and Drayton streets for a church, school and parsonage.

In 1860 the first parish priest, Reverend Edmund Moberley, was appointed and in 1863 a parsonage was built in Patrick Street where 27 acres (11 hectares) of Glebe land were also held.

In 1866 a small brick church with an iron roof was built on the corner of Cunningham and Drayton Streets to the design of WC Wakeling.

The church, a rectangular timber building sheltered by a shingled roof and set on stumps, faced Cunningham Street.

He was one of a remarkable family firm of architects that had a lasting effect on the appearance of Toowoomba, being responsible for a large number of public, private and commercial buildings.

[1] In order to prevent a recurrence of the foundation problems that ruined the first church, the Dalby site was excavated to a depth of 8 feet (2.4 m) when a bed of solid yellow clay was discovered.

[4] Decorative red cedar panelling donated by Mr CG Knowles was installed to dado height in the sanctuary and chancel by 1931.

[1] St John's Church stands prominently to the corner of Cunningham and Drayton Streets, Dalby and is set within extensive grounds.

The ceiling is lined with battened fibrous cement sheeting with a narrow decorative panel running along the underside of the ridge.

[1] The shrubs, trees, rectory, parish office and bell tower within the church grounds are not of cultural heritage significance.

The property is bounded to Drayton and Cunningham streets by a low brick fence with decorative metal entrance gates.