The Barton's donated the funds for the land on which St John's church now stands and gave significant support to the construction, including that of a vicarage in 1894.

In 1884 architect Frederick de Jersey Clere was commissioned to add on a chancel and sanctuary to the church building, and a Vestry added in 1914.

In January 1903, Rev Cecil J Smith arrived at Trentham, and proceeded to re-invigorate the parish and the local area.

The churchyard was the earliest European cemetery in the district with people being buried there as soon as the land was consecrated in 1865.

[4] Media related to St John's Anglican Church, Trentham at Wikimedia Commons