St John's was originally conceived as a chapel of ease to the parish church of St Mary at Hampton[3] about 2+1⁄2 miles away,[4] but following its completion, the district assigned to it was made a separate parish.

[4] The building's architect Edward Lapidge also donated the land for it, and paid for the enclosure of the site on one side.

Lapidge had been born in Hampton Wick, and designed the present Kingston Bridge nearby.

[4] It was built in a plain Gothic Revival style, faced with Suffolk brick and Bath stone.

It was intended to seat 800 people, half the accommodation being free (i.e. not subject to pew rent).