He raised public subscriptions to pay for the construction on a site close to his home of Newland Grove at a cost of £1,650.

Avison Terry, not being satisfied with this less than ideal arrangement, set out to raise further money so that St John's could have a minister of its own.

In 1881 the Reverend Joseph Malet Lambert was appointed vicar of Saint John's, and remained with the church for 30 years.

The burials in the vaults were removed to the churchyard and the floor level lowered, and the windows changed from a tall narrow design to wider arched structures.

A screen, projector, cameras for streaming the services[4] and a new sound system were installed blending the original architecture with 21st century congregational needs and evangelical belief and practice.

[8][9] St John's Church developed connections with REACH South Africa, George Whitefield College in Cape Town, Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and the Lanier Theological Library, Houston, Texas.

[13] A weekly service at St John's Church was restarted on 4 October 2020, under the leadership of interim vicar, the Reverend Canon Erik Wilson.