The Dean of the San Joaquin Convocation reported to the 1899 Convention of the Diocese of California that Church work had begun in Porterville. William Hart, Missionary at Visalia conducted this before leaving Visalia. Thereafter work in Porterville lapsed. When a Women's Guild begin meeting in 1908, this led to regular services of the Church being reinstituted and held in an upper room over a hardware store, from 1909 onwards. For a time Lay Reader Richard M. Trelease of Visalia, conducted services. He was later ordained. By the time of the first Convocation of the Missionary District of San Joaquin on May 9, 1911, the delegates of St. John's, Porterville, were seated, though no mention is made of "voice" or "vote", as they were still "passing through the regular procedure of organization." Official organization of St. John's took place on June 4, 1911, with Bishop Sanford's consent. At the second Convocation in Hanford, May 22, 1912, St. John's was formally admitted, but no delegate was present, only the Vicar.

     The Rev. Lee Axtell Wood of Visalia conducted regular services in Porterville (as well as Tulare). In 1911, he was appointed the official Priest-in-charge, and soon moved his residence to town. Valuable lots were purchased on the corner of D and Thurman. A guild hall was opened. and dedicated by Bishop Sanford in May, 1913. This was later modified and is the present church. Under Mr. Wood's leadership the congregation grew. He remained until year's end 1929, when he became the first Student Pastor at Fresno State College and Vicar of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Fresno. He was succeeded by Fr. John Keble Burleson.

     The early promise shown by the congregation withered during the Depression. In order to try to save a salary, Bishop Sanford appointed the Rev. Charles H. Powell Ph.D. Vicar of both Porterville and Bishop! Needless to say Dr. Powell found the assignment impossible and took the position in Bishop, where Inyo County employed him as Juvenile Probation Officer. Porterville was reassigned and struggled along through the years of World War II.

     After the war, the Rev. Charles M. Brandon came to Porterville as Vicar after 11 years as an army chaplain. It brought a new lease on life for St. John's. Under his leadership St. John's grew again and became self-supporting. Parish status was granted by the Convocation in 1945. Fr. Brandon retired as Rector in 1959. He continued to live in Porterville until his death.

     The Rev. John Atkinson served as Rector from 1960 to 1963. Fr. M. Fletcher Davis was Rector from 1964 to 1968. Fr. Richard Warren was Rector from 1969 until his retirement in 1977. Fr. James C. Thompson succeeded as Rector in the summer of the same year. A program of repair and painting on the aging church building has been completed and under Fr. Thompson's leadership the church is thriving.

     The Bishop appointed Fr. Thompson as Dean of Sequoia Deanery in late 1957, following the resignation of Fr. Don Cole of St. Paul's, Visalia, from the position as Dean.