St. John's was established as a Presbyterian Church in 1852. The present building, designed by HW & FB Tompkins, was opened in 1927 with its distinctive spire dedicated to the men from St. John's who died in the First World War. A number of memorials were in placewhen the buildingopened and St. George was dedicated at the 75th anniversary celebrations of the church in December 1927. A helmeted St. George was the subject of stained glass artist, William 'Jock' Frater's commemorative church windows from about 1919, including installations at Christ Church Anglican, Birregurra and Holy Trinity Anglican, Maldon. His Arts & Crafts style did not appeal to all clients and often he modified his Scottish training in this style to please a more conservative clientele.
Harold Carlyle Parker was born at Elsternwick in 1892. He enlisted on 11 October 1915, aged 23 years, with military experience in the Victorian Scottish Regiment and the Victorian Rangers. Joining the 15th reinforcements for 6 Battalion he transferred to 37 Battalion from April 1916. After leaving Melbourne on HMAT Persic, on 3 June 1916, he disembarked in England where he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. A month after his arrival in France he took part in a raid of German trenches at Armentieres on Christmas Day and was reported wounded and missing in January 1917; this was later amended to Prisoner of War. He died of wounds and was buried by German hands in Military Cemetery Lambersarrt France; he was re-buried later at Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France.
