[1][2][3] Overlooking Lake Burley Griffin today, it has remained a small English village-style church even as Australia's capital grew around it.

[4][5] Over time, it became a focal point for Australia's governors-general, politicians, public servants and military leaders,[5] and has hosted royalty on numerous occasions.

[11] An annual community fair has been held in the church grounds since the 1930s, with participation from local schools, bands and arts organisations.

The foundation stone was laid in on 11 May 1841 by the Revd Edward Smith, Rector of Queanbeyan, and the church was consecrated on 12 March 1845 by Bishop Broughton.

[15] The original 6-metre (20 ft) church tower was erected in 1845 but developed a one-metre (two-foot) lean, was deemed unsafe and was dismantled in 1864.

[4] The tall trees, many planted by long-serving Rector of Canberra Revd Pierce Galliard Smith, formed another landmark.

[18][19][20] The church, churchyard and Schoolhouse Museum are now listed by the ACT Heritage Council, which notes, in particular, that the east and west lychgates at St John's are a rare example of this type of structure in Australia.

[21] Memorial plaques to parishioners cover the interior of the nave, from earlier pastoral families to eminent Australians after Australia's federation.

The chancel's east window was added between 1872 and 1874,[14] and depicts biblical scenes related to Saint John the Baptist, after whom the church is dedicated.

[25] In September 2014, the Bishop of Kobe (Andrew Yatuka Nakamura) attended a service at St John's in memory of Sister Hayman and to celebrate the modern Australia-Japan relationship.

It is a 2-manual tracker action instrument located in the west gallery, with a case made of Western Australian jarrah and tin facade pipes.

[28] The chime of eight church bells were donated by Governor-General William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle and mark his term of office (1961–65).

[8] The bells are rung in the English change ringing tradition, but rather than swinging full circle, are chimed using an Ellacombe apparatus.

They include the church's long-serving 19th-century rector, the Revd Pierce Galliard Smith, and Colonel John George Nathaniel Gibbes, who occupied Yarralumla homestead from 1859 until his death 14 years later.

Coincidentally, lying close to Gibbes' grave is the final resting place of another person with a link to the British throne, albeit one greatly separated in time and circumstance from that of the colonel.

This information is drawn inter alia from the definitive guide to all known burials at the site, Jean Salisbury's St John's Churchyard Canberra.

Webb's headstone became known as the "Prophet’s Tombstone" and became a magnet for travellers when Canberra was announced as Australia's future capital city.

The schoolhouse's rubble and bluestone were quarried locally, with a shingle roof and thick walls to shelter against the harsh Canberra climate.

[4] These include schoolhouse artifacts, photographs, letters, newspaper cuttings and other heritage items, serving as tangible evidence of the lives of early European settlers in the region.

[17][16][34] The rectory, the residence of the rector of Canberra, lies in the southeastern corner of the church precinct, opening onto Anzac Parade.

Rendered in a simplistic style, the mural depicts subjects as diverse as a theodolite, a microscope, an Aboriginal Australian man, Bogong moths, Merino sheep, liturgical symbols, the Guides Australia logo and a girl in the uniform, a Boy Scout, Old Parliament House, early ministers of the church and settlers.

Rudd took the opportunity to address the assembled media and television cameras after Sunday services and field and answer questions on topics of the day.

Bishop Daniel Zelinsky of South Bound Brook, New Jersey, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and preached in Ukrainian and English.

A special 10:00 am choral service was held, attended by the Governor General, David Hurley, and the Ambassador of the United States, Arthur Culvahouse.