As stated previously early documentation concerning the church is at best poor and it not until 1911 to 1912 that we have any records of church accounts. However in that year John Crawford and Samuel Read started an accounts book which puts into perspective those low offertory figures. The total collections for the year amounted to £87.16.1d and believe it or not there was a surplus of income over expenditures. The present wardens would, no doubt, be pleased to have the bills of those early years.

Salaries included the occupation of Fire maker and Caretaker at £10 per year and for his years work the organ - blower received £2.10s.0d. Wine for the year cost £1.0s.0d and heating the church caused no financial hardship either as the total cost of coal and carting for 1914 was £10.10s.4d.

Over the years the accounts provide fascinating and often amusing reading also proving that it is only in very recent years that costs have escalated at the rate to which we now have come accustomed to. A good example of this is the oak door to the Vestry, how much would such a door cost today? As recently as 1954 an oak door was purchased at a cost of £8! and in the same year a new safe was acquired adding a further cost of £10 to the year accounts. One item in the 1920's accounts are shown for the first time and these are the choir outings where both men and the boys being provided with separate days out. However not a mention is made about the choir ladies! did they not merit a day out or were there not any lady members of the choir?

 Great changes in the life of the church came about in the roaring twenties. Up to May 6th 1928 the church was a chapel of ease to the parish church but on that auspicious date by order of the council, a new parish was formed round the church of St John the Divine.

Reverend S. Bradney had been curate of Bulwell and in charge of St John's since 1925 and the rector Reverend S M Wheeler invited him to become the first vicar, but due to the illness of Bishop Heywood the instruction was delayed until October 23rd 1928. A new vicarage sited in Squires Avenue was completed in 1930 and the congregation must have felt that the 20th century had really arrived, when early in the 1930's, electric lighting was installed in the church whilst November 1934 saw another visit to the parish by Bishop Haywood, this time to open the church hall on Rock street.

 On Easter day 1935 Reverend Bradney officiated at no less than six services, Holy Communion at 6.15 am, 7.00am, 8.00am and 11.00am followed with a children's service at 2.30pm and Evensong at 6.30pm. The following Sunday April 28th 1935 saw the benediction of the oak eagle lectern by the Archdeacon of Newark Reverend Hadring. This commemorated the golden jubilee of the consecration and provides a point at which to end this look at the early years.

 The second half century will doubtless be dealt with at a later date however one factor from this period is worthy of a mention. The post war years have brought about changes in our lives faster and more frequently than at any other time in history and we now accept rapid comings and goings of prominent and influential personnel. The Archdeacon of Stafford once commented "it takes at least three or four years work in a parish before anything worthwhile is achieved yet an ever increasing number of the clergy find it necessary to change parishes every fourth year". It is to the credit of St John's parish that since it's formation  76 years ago our present vicar is only the seventh holder of the title of Vicar of the church of St John the Devine, Bulwell.

   1882                      Foundation stone laid.

   1885                      Consecration.

   1890                      Completion of building work.

    1928                     Parish created - Reverend S Bradney -Vicar.

    1930                     Vicarage built.

    1934                     Church hall dedicated.

    1935                     Reverend Charles W Whitacre -Vicar.

    1947                     Reverend Charles W Young - Vicar.

    1973                     Reverend Michael Hall - Vicar.

    1981                     Jeffrey  P Fewkes - Priest in charge..

    1998                     Christopher Wade - Priest in charge.

    2004                     David Gray - Vicar.