From the records of St. Anne's Church, Chasetown:
"On August 4th 1883, the committees of the mission room which had just been decided on, met to fix a site. Just over a month later, on September 29th there was a further meeting in Chase Terrace, specifically about building the Mission Church. And it was on August 4th 1884 that St John's foundation stone was laid by Miss Hussy of Wyrley Grove", said the Revd George Poole.
It was known as "The Church on the Hill".
The Very Reverend Dean of Lichfield donated 12 chairs and a Mr Austin donated the use of his American organ!
It was completed with picture hung on the walls and red curtains
The Revd William Henry Hopkins, MA was curate in charge of the new mission church.
The bell tower proved to be to heavy for the building and was later demolished, and the bell re-positioned.
A stained glass window of St John latter added to the building. This window was later incorporated as a feature in the foyer of the new St John's Community Church building. The original bell is also in the porch.
The Church Room was in Ironstone Rood.
The chairs were later replaced by pews, as seen opposite.
In the 1960's church member Nancy Webster became the first woman Chair of Burntwood Parish Council, and helped the church obtain a strip of land to the side of the church. Useful for a possible extension!
"In late 1997/early 1980", says one time Lay Reader Michael Jeffs, "at a church committee meeting it was agreed we needed a toilet - and a kitchen would be a useful facility".
A building fund was started. Then in 1984 the Town Council decided to sell the Chase Terrace park keeper's cottage which was situated behind the church on the south side, to the highest bidder. The committee thought it would be a good site for a church hall or vicarage, and made a bid of £19,000. The building fund stood at £5,894.18 on 31st December 1983. Prayer became more intense. More money came in during 1984. "Give until it hurts", the congregation were asked when the news came that the bid for the cottage had been successful. A special Harvest Festival gift day was arranged for 7th October 1984, and an astounding £8,400 was raised in gifts and pledges.
The land where the cottage once stood now provides parking for the new building.
In 1989 the church had bad news. Many thousands of pounds would be needed just to keep the present church standing.
Much prayer then had to go into a decision of either attempting a repair of the mission church or demolishing it and building a much needed multi- purpose built building.
In 1986, the centenary year of the mission church, the congregation officially became the District Church of St John in the Parish of St Anne's Chasetown.
The mission church also owned the property called "The Church Room" in Ironstone Road, Chase Terrace which needed some serious renovation. This renovation was undertaken by members of the congregation. For safety reasons the congregation then moved from the church and worshipped in this building, St John's Churchrooms for just over five years. See photograph opposite.
They also decided to demolish and re-build St John's church. Building a church more suitable for both church and community use. The proposed new building was therefore named St Johns Community Church.
Work commenced on the new building in February 1997, with the foundation stone being laid in April.
The members held their first service in the building on Sunday 21st December 1997. Members of the public were invited to attend a Christmas Special on the afternoon of Wednesday 24th December1997.
The building was dedicated on Sunday 11th January 1998 at 3 pm, still minus the dividing wall between the hall and worship room and other more minor items.
On All Saints Day, 1 November 2000, St. John's Community Church became a Parish Church. Then at 8 pm on Tuesday 5th December 2000, St John's Community Church hosted the service for the institution and induction of the incumbents for all three parishes in Burntwood Town. The Revd Duncan B Leake MA (Psychol), BA (Theol) becoming the first incumbent of the new parish of Chase Terrace and Boney Hay, St John.
By 2001 Sunday School Teachers were unhappy about the amount of room for
their classes. Other user groups of this community building also wanted more
room for activities.
The photograph opposite shows the extension of a meeting room and additional
disabled toilet being added in June 2003.
At 5 pm on Sunday September 28th 2003 the "Harvest Celebration and Official Opening" of the new meeting room took place.
A rainbow over the rear of St John's Community Church
The building of the M6 toll road now makes this an excellent, modern centre with easy access for people from a wide area. It is often used for conferences and training events for groups of 8 to 200.