St John's Heritage Projectsite under construction

1830
(In 1182 Dudley had two churches - St Edmunds - The ‘Castle Church’ and St Thomas’s - built by Gervase Paganel who founded the priory in about 1160)

1831
St. Edmunds rebuilt in 1724 after being ruined during the seige of the castle by Parliamentary forces in the Civil War in 1646.

1832
Dudley grew considerably during the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th Century.

1833
St Thomas’s Church demolished in 1815 and present church built and re-opened in 1818
St Andrews Church built in Netherton in 1827 to serve that area of the town.

1834
More churches needed to serve the growing town

1836
Sites for the churches given by the trustees of John William, first Earl of Dudley, who had died in 1833

1837
A circular sent by Vicar of Dudley Rev. W.H. Cartwright asking for support for a Grand Bazaar to be held in the Castle Courtyard. This took place on 18th and 19th July 1937
Funds from this and other efforts, plus contributions from national and diocesan societies for church buildings provided sufficient money to erect two Churches or ‘Chapels of Ease’, one planned for Eve Hill later known as St James’s and the other for Kates Hill - St John’s.

The cost of each church estimated to be £3000.

1838
October 1838 The Bishop of Exeter was staying at Himley Hall and advantage was taken to have the foundation stones of both churches laid on the same day. After a long procession and much ceremony the two foundation stones were laid by the Hon Susannah Julia Ward (daughter of Lord Ward and second cousin of a former Earl of Dudley).

1839
While the church was being built services were held on Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings in a building at Dixons Green, erected as a chapel by Non Conformists at a cost of £436
The site of this building is unknown.​

1840
St James’s Church consecrated by the Right Rev. Robert James Carr D.D. Bishop of Worcester in the morning of Monday 27th July 1840.

St John’s Church was similarly consecrated in the afternoon of the same day.

Birmingham Post ‘The Communion plate was given by Thomas Fletcher Esq. The cushions and linen for the communion table were furnished by the ladies of Dudley, the former being of rich purple cloth trimmed with yellow fringes, the latter of the finest fabric, elegantly worked. A Bible and two prayer books, handsomely bound, were presented by Mr Danks (Mr Danks, of High Street, was the printer of the service paper). The collection in the afternoon amounted to nearly £70. The cost is estimated at £3000 and the church contains about 800 free sittings’

A curate of Dudley Parish Church placed in charge, the Rev. John Short M.A. as no separate parish had been created

Rev Edward Henry Lane Noott appointed (serves until 1905)

1844
May 23rd, 1844 an Order in Council constituted the Parish of St John and the Rev. Edward Henry Lane Noott, M.A. of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge was appointed first Vicar.

His stipend was £32 per year, which was considerably augmented by the then Earl of Dudley
The Beadle was Mr Cornelius Webb who was also a parish constable. By coincidence, the first Beadle at St James’s, was his brother, James
7th August first Baptisms - Benjamin Hurley Piddock and Elizabeth Eliza Watton
17th November first wedding - Joseph Johnson and Anna Mullett
2nd December first burial - William Roden

​1845
The Churches had not been fully paid for - see 1853
Kates Hill has only a few houses where the church was built. The main roads are Dixons Green, Brown Street and the streets nearby. Between these and Cawney Hill is green meadows and cornfields.
In the evening there was a fine view of the Tipton furnaces

1846
Rev Noott serves the church and area; day school, Sunday school, many other parish organisations
Day school erected on land given by the Dudley family

1852
Vicarage built, on land adjoining the church

1853
The Vicar and Church Wardens of the Parish Church St Thomas’s appealed to the ratepayers for a rate of threepence in the pound to pay for the two district churches St John and St James.
So far as is known this is the last church rate to be levied in Dudley

1863
Churchyard enlarged

1868
First record of a church organist, Mr Nicholls

1872
1872-1873 extensive scheme of enlargement and improvement to the church
Cost about £2000 - nor record discovered of what work was done

1881
Tribute paid to the vicar Rev. Noott. At a meeting in the public hall he was presented with a cheque for £500 and a service of silver plate
He was referred to as a ‘faithful performer of all his duties, clerical and otherwise, one whose many acts of unobtrusiveness kindness and deeds of charity are hidden from the light’.

1886
May 5th, 1886 new organ opened, built by Messrs P. Conacher & Co of Huddersfield. A newspaper article said it was the third organ placed in the church.
At the dedication service the sermon was preached by the Dean of Worcester Dr Gott and a large congregation took part in the service which was fully choral
1888
Chancel screen, of wrought iron, erected in October, 1888, a mural brass is inscribed ‘To the Glory of God and in memory of Edward Truelove Terry of the Firs, Dudley, this screen was erected by public subscription in October, 1888’

1890

Churchyard enlarged, second time
Mr Bottomly resigns as organist, replaced by Mr A.Clifford Duesbury (until 1923)

​1892
Rev Noott honoured again on the occasion of his jubilee in the Ministry of the Church. 48 years of his ministerial life had been spent at St John’s. 
He was presented with a cheque for £100 and a hall clock.
A Mission Room on Cawney Hill given by Mr William Turner for use as a Church Hall

1893
Rev Noott offered the post of Rural Dean of Dudley, but declined because of his age

1897
Rev and Mrs Noott celebrate their golden wedding anniversary, further presentations made

1905
9th January Rev. Noott died at the age of 88 years.
Mrs Noott died in Cheltenham in 1916
Rev Noott’s son Rev. Arthur Noott carried on for a short time after his father’s death.
He was followed by Rev. Crispin Field who had previously been curate
No vicar for a whole year.

1906
4th January Rev Charles Thomas Powell, M.A. appointed, (serves until 1924)
Owing to the great age of the late Vicar and a year without a Vicar much had to be done to build up the church and parish organisation. Rev Powell soon got to work with great enthusiasm and a large band of willing helpers
19 adults prepared for confirmation at Worcester Cathedral, March, and a further 76 adults in December
Sunday Schools and district visiting re-organised
Parochial Church Council formed, first met July 3rd, 1906