St. John’s began as mission outreach of St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1918. In May of that year Bishop Francis Key Brooke, first bishop of the Missionary District of Oklahoma, announced: “Calvary Chapel, Oklahoma City, has been moved and rebuilt and improved in another part of the city where it was more needed and is now the home of St. John’s Mission and Sunday School.” This was the third Episcopal Church in Oklahoma City. The others were St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Church of the Redeemer

The first building was located at 1135 NW 31st St. In December 1920, the daily paper reported, “Last Sunday the parishioners of St. John’s Episcopal Chapel attended services at 1135 NW. 31st St. Next Sunday the same parishioners will worship in the same church, but at Classen and 31st Street…the building moved in solemn procession down thirty-first street last night…early this morning it was reported as resting easily in its new surroundings.” The parishioners of St. John’s actually moved the building down the street to its new location.

In 1921 the church became a parish and in 1928, a new building was built. It served as the parish home for thirty-eight years.

St. John’s Episcopal School opened in 1951 offering preschool and kindergarten to families in the Oklahoma City metro area. The school was identified as the main outreach of St. John’s Church, and the need for more space was the focus in the early 1960’s. Land was purchased and ground was broken to build a large facility that could grow the school. On the Feast of Christ the King, October 30, 1966, St. John’s was dedicated at its present location on Brookline Avenue.

Since its beginnings, St. John’s Episcopal School has expanded to include a child development program that begins at six weeks old, and the school grades go all the way through the 8th grade.

In 1998, through a coordinated effort between church parishioners and school patrons, a new sanctuary building was built and dedicated, as well as the addition of classroom space. The church and school continue to provide worship and education for the greater Oklahoma City metro area.