Originally, the John the Baptist Church was built not in Solikamsk, but in the village of Krasnoe, located one verst from the city. Travelers and merchants arriving by water from Perm and Usolye passed through this village before reaching Solikamsk, and the first thing they saw was the tall church. In the 17th century, active stone construction began in wealthy Solikamsk, and about a dozen stone churches were erected, many of which have survived to this day. Due to its numerous monuments and unique architecture, Solikamsk became popular among tourists and lovers of church architecture in the Urals. Soon, stone churches began to be built in the surrounding villages, including Krasnoe. The decree for the construction of the church was signed in 1715, but work did not begin until 1721. The founder of the church is considered to be Bishop Alexy Titov of Vyatka and Great Perm. Funding for the construction changed several times as the village changed hands. Initially, the funds were provided by salt industrialist Ivan Surovtsov, but soon the village became part of the Demidov family's estates, who continued the construction. Later, local native Alexey Fyodorovich Turchaninov, known from the tales of Pavel Bazhov, completed the construction. Under the Turchaninovs, both churches, the lower and upper, were consecrated.

The church was conceived as a two-story structure. The lower and upper churches are consecrated in honor of two saints named John. Although the church is traditionally called the John the Baptist Church, the first to be consecrated was the lower warm church in the name of the holy martyr John the Warrior. Currently, only this church is active, as the summer church of John the Baptist has not been restored since the building was handed over to the believers in 1989. The John the Baptist Church belongs to the early school of Russian Baroque of the northern type, which developed in the Kostroma and Vologda provinces and spread to the banks of the Kama. The church, built like a 'ship', features a two-tiered drum and a tall bell tower, making it particularly noticeable against the surrounding buildings.

The warm winter chapel of St. John the Warrior was consecrated in 1728. The construction and finishing of the upper church took a long time, and the exact date of its consecration is unknown, but according to Archpriest A. Lukanin, it occurred no earlier than the 1770s. The church was built in the 18th century when Solikamsk had already experienced its heyday, complicating its fate. The church took a long time to build, was supported with difficulty, and in the 20th century, like many Russian churches, was closed by the authorities. In the 18th century, salt extraction in the Volga region undermined Solikamsk's economy, and new roads bypassed the city. The Turchaninovs, owners of the village of Krasnoe, completed the construction of the church with varying success and consecrated the summer chapel in the 1770s. The church stood out for its size, decoration, and harmonious ringing of bells, which numbered up to eighteen. The bell ringing was made possible by the copper smelting plants of Turchaninov. In the 19th century, the lands belonging to the church passed to other owners, and the church ceased to receive income, leading to its dilapidation. In 1845, the church was annexed to the Trinity Cathedral.

In the second half of the 19th century, the church suffered from natural disasters. In 1868, a storm damaged the roof and dome of the church, but merchant V.A. Ryazantsev repaired the building. In 1877, a fire severely damaged the upper church, and its restoration required more funds than the previous repair. After restoration, the church rivaled the best churches in Solikamsk in terms of amenities. In 1887, the church regained its independence and a separate staff. At the end of the 19th century, a women's monastery was founded at the church, a dream of merchant Alexander Ryazantsev. In the early 20th century, the monastery acquired a dependency and a small hospital.

In 1918, Soviet power was established in Solikamsk, and in 1921, the monastery was closed, and the nuns were dispersed. The church was used as an orphanage, an OGPU club, a chemical plant, and a cotton factory. In the 1930s, there were plans to dismantle the bell tower, but this did not happen. In the late 1980s, the return of churches to believers began.

The John the Baptist Church belongs to the type of 'ship' church but differs in its doubled proportions. This makes its appearance unusual and memorable. The church has several features, including a long porch and a two-story structure. The external decor of the church is rich, while the interior decoration is modest. The cold upper church requires repairs and is not consecrated. The main entrance to the church is located on the northern side, leading into the warm church in the name of St. John the Warrior. The church is a long room with an arched vault, divided by an arch. The church is not painted, but there are medallions depicting prophets above the altar and on the walls. The iconostasis is modest, with six icons. A staircase leads to the second floor, where the summer church of John the Baptist is located, requiring restoration. The length of the church is over 35 meters, and the height of the bell tower is over 30 meters. Before the revolution, there were 18 bells in the bell tower, the largest weighing 320 poods.