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.
The Rev. Lee Axtell Wood of Visalia conducted regular services in Porterville (as well as in Tulare). In 1911, he was appointed the official Priest-in-charge, and soon moved his residence to Porterville. 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 site. Under Fr. 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 Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, Fresno. He was succeeded by Fr. John Keble Burleson.
After World War II, the Rev. Charles M. Brandon came to Porterville as Vicar after eleven years as an army chaplain. It brought a new lease on life for St. John’s. Under his leadership St. John’s grew and became self-supporting. Parish status was granted by the Convocation in 1948. 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 was completed, and under Fr. Thompson’s leadership the church thrived.