St John’s today can claim descent from the mediaeval burghal church of St Nicholas: in 1693 Dr George Garden, the first Rector of St John’s, was ejected from the second charge of the East Kirk of St Nicholas for refusing to conform to the Presbyterian establishment. Those of his congregation who still adhered to Episcopacy left with him. In 1720, after five years in exile, he returned to Aberdeen and gathered the remnants of his congregation together. This was the real beginning of St John’s Church.