A Wesleyan Church, the first Church built in Nelson, was opened in 1843 on the corner of Haven Road and Rutherford Street. This building was sold in 1857 due to earthquake damage and a growing congregation.Present-day St Johns. St Johns Church Archives. Click image to enlarge
The Hardy Street site on which the Church now stands was bought from John Waring Saxton in 1857. William Beatson designed the Church to accommodate 400. This was his first architectural commission in Nelson.The foundation stone was laid in November 1857 and the new Church building was opened on 18 June 1858. A further section of land was bought from Mr Saxton around 1864 for the parsonage. Beatson also designed the parsonage and the Sunday School building at the back of the Church.A growing congregation required the Church to be enlarged in 1866. By the 1880's the woodwork had badly decayed and the building was still too small. So it was sold (by auction) and the £21 went to a new church building fund.The foundation stone for the new building was laid September 1889. The Church was opened in 1890. The building is still on the site today.