This was carved out of Puttur.  A small prayer hall was built in 1918 by Fr. P.S. D’ Souza of Puttur church, who started the mission station.  Kokkada became a parish on April 1, 1918.  The church was blessed and the first mass was offered.  Fr Rosario D. Sequeira took over as the missionary parish priest in 1919.  In 1923 Kadaba and in 1928 Uppinangady were separated from Kokkada. 

Fr Albert Pinto bought a plot of land and constructed the existing church building in 1938.  Fr Harold D’Souza (1946-1953) used to go to Shirady twice a month in order to say mass for the Malayalee Catholics living there.  Mr Liguory D’Souza of Bendore donated the main statue of St John the Baptist.  It was during Fr Jerome D’Souza’s time (1956-1959) that kneelers and belfry were provided to the church.  6 buildings for the ashram were constructed by Fr Benedict Sylvester Rego.  Sound system to the church was provided by Fr Victor J. D’Souza.

Fr R.D. Sequeira began St John’s Primary School in 1924.  Fr Albert Pinto constructed the school building in 1933.  In 1938 the school was upgraded.  In 1965 St John’s school was upgraded to Higher Primary level.