1930

St. John's church was repapered at a cost of $256.00 and a new garage for the rectory was built at a cost of $67.50. There were 123 registered parishioners at this time.

1931

A papal directive changed the name of the diocese to the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

1933

The outside of St. John's church was repainted at a cost of $123.41.

1934

The rich Edmond oil fields were discovered. This pushed Edmond into the category of a boom town during the thirties and forties. More businesses were established and many new homes were built as oil workers came to town.

1936

The population of Edmond jumped to 4,500.

On March 16th, a fire destroyed the belfry and roof of St. John's church. The damage was so extensive that the building had to be completely reconstructed and renovated. The renovated church had a shortened bell tower, a round window over the front door, and an Irish cross on the top of the steeple. In 1935, the church had been valued at $3,000.00 and the cost of the renovation was $3,371.41. Fortunately, the bill was paid by the Catholic Mutual Insurance Society of America.

1937

Father McNamee was ahead of his time with regards to changes in the church, advocating a number of reforms that did not come to pass for decades. A great deal of controversy arose from an article in the Southwest courier in which he presented arguments for the use of English in the Mass. Some people wanted Father McNamee to be excommunicated for heresy. He did begin the partial use of English by having a layman read the epistle and gospel in English while he read in Latin.

The Catholic Newman club was established on the Central State campus and, in the late 1930s, there was a growth of inter-denominational activities with Protestant and Jewish groups.

In the late 1930s and on into the 1940s, Precious Blood sisters came to Edmond on Sundays to teach catechism and in the summer to teach Religious Vacation School.

1940

St. John's experienced a slow but steady growth, from 123 to 170 parishioners, during the past 10 year period. During the same period of time, Navina increased from 78 to 103 and Lockridge decreased from 110 to 90.

1941

The nation was thrown into war on December 7th. Edmond joined the nation in patriotic displays and contributions to the war effort. Local men and women went off to military service or defense work. Edmond's population increased to over 6,000 as more oil workers and defense workers came to town.

1943

Father McNamee became a military chaplain and Father Gavan P. Monaghan succeeded him as pastor of St. John's. During the war, the population of St. John's decreased from 175 to 100 but by the late 1940s, parish members had increased to 161. Father Monaghan stayed at St. John's for 8 years and was a stabilizing influence on the parish. He initiated a Young People's Study Club.
 
 

1948

Eugene J. McGuinness became the third bishop of the Oklahoma diocese.

St. John's underwent another renovation.

1949

St. John's church was valued at $20,000.00. The rectory and the garage were valued at $8,000.00.

Records at St. John's indicate that, in addition to Edmond, Lockridge, and Navina, Father Monaghan also took care of a mission at Jones.