The Guild Hall was built October 1875 - February 1876 to serve as S. John's first church building. Earlier in 1875, S. John's had been founded as a mission to the Point neighborhood by the S. Stephen's Guild of Trinity Church, Newport, with the enthusiastic support of Trinity's rector, the Reverend Dr. Isaac White. The mission first met in rooms provided by Peter Quire, a free black from Baltimore who had moved to the Point to escape discrimination, on July 11, 1875. In only a few weeks, Trinity's mission outgrew these rooms and decided to build a chapel. The mission quickly assembled a committee to solicit subscriptions and purchased a lot on Poplar Street.

In October 1875, work started on the church building, a board-and-batten structure built in the popular Gothic Revival style. Prominent architect George C. Mason, Trinity's senior warden, donated the plans and Nathan Barker of Newport served as the builder and contractor. Mr. Mason's original design had not included a bell tower, but the Newport city government offered to defray part of the cost of the tower and to provide a bell if the bell were also used as a fire alarm. The chapel was named "The Free Chapel of S. John the Evangelist," a name that had been selected by the Dr. White, who had died unexpectedly only two months before the building was completed.

A number of persons contributed furnishings to the new chapel. Mrs. R. P. Berry gave three chancel windows. Trinity Church's S. Stephen's Guild donated a lectern and its Sunday School gave a bible, prayer books, altar service books, and hymnals. The family of the Reverend J. H. Gilliat gave a baptismal font of Campana marble in his memory. Mr. John H. Chanler of New York gave sterling silver altar plate in memory of his wife.

The first service in the new building was held on February 13, 1876, with five clergymen present: The Reverend Doctor Alexander G. Mercer, interim rector of Trinity Church following the death of Dr. White; The Reverend Doctor William S. Child, former rector of Zion Episcopal Church; The Reverend R. B. Peet, rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, the Reverend E. H. Kettell; and the Reverend C. S. M. Stewart. Dr. Mercer was the sermoner. From this day, regular services were held at the chapel, the aforementioned clergymen kindly volunteering their services.

Major changes came to the chapel in 1882, when the congregation decided both to become an independent parish and to expand the church building. The expansion was begun in September of that year, and the newly independent parish celebrated its first service in the enhanced structure on Christmas Eve. The builders had enlarged the chapel by 26 feet, which gave the chancel enough room to accommodate the choir, and installed a rood screen.

By the 1890's, the Free Chapel of S. John's was struggling financially, despite the best efforts of its rector, Father Moran, and the congregation. Fortunately, at this same time Sarah Titus Zabriskie of New York decided to build a new brownstone church for S. John's as a memorial to her mother, Sarah Jane Titus Zabriskie. Construction of the new building was begun in 1893 and completed by November 1894. The former chapel building was then deconsecrated and remodeled extensively - at the parish's expense - to serve as a parish hall, a purpose it has served to this day. In the 1990's, the Guild Hall was again renovated with the assistance of the Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust and monies raised by a successful blues concert "S. John's Jams."

Today the Guild Hall not only serves S. John's parishioners, but also the Point population as a site for meetings and community gatherings. It is available for receptions, dinners, and other meetings. For more information, contact the .