The Chapel’s four manual, Mander Organ is one of the finest instruments of its kind in the country. The College hosts its own recital series during term-time, but organisers are welcome to hire the Organ either for recitals, or as an accompaniment for choral or orchestral concerts.
Chapel: Facilities available for hire
The Chapel and its facilities are available to hire for a variety of different events. Please click on the links below to find out more information about the facilities you require.
To enquire about hiring the Chapel for an event, please contact the Chapel Clerk, Stephen Stokes, on (01223) 338676 or by email.
Layout
In its standard layout the Chapel can seat up to 247 people in the collegiate style benches and misericords. If desired, additional seating can be placed in the chapel aisle to increase the total number of seats in the main body of the Chapel to 433 (at £1.00 per extra seat). These additional seats are single, folding, plastic chairs that can be laid out either following the collegiate layout, or facing forward in rows of six (split into blocks of two and four, with an aisle in between).
It is also possible for an extra 100 seats to be set out in the Ante-Chapel, however these seats do offer either partially or totally restricted views of the high altar.
Information
Groups:
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Organ recitals »
Concert hire »
St John's College Chapel is used regularly for concerts, both by students and professional orchestra and choirs, due to its excellent acoustics and versatile space.
The performance area is able to accommodate concerts by string quartets to large chamber orchestras. The ‘stage-area’ has fixed tiering, and can accommodate around 45 instrumental players on three levels. The Chapel has been used by the baroque ensemble Florilegium, the orchestra London Mozart Players and harpist Catrin Finch.
The performance space is particularly popular with Choirs and vocal ensembles such as The Sixteen, Laudibus (National Youth Chamber Choir of Great Britain), The English Arts Chorale, Rodolfus Choir, English Voices and Accentus have all given concerts in the Chapel recently.
If requested, an additional 186 seats (single folding plastic chairs) are available to increase the capacity of the main body of the Chapel to 433.
An extra 100 chairs can also be laid out in the Ante-Chapel, these seats have restricted views.
Recording your event
The chapel has excellent recording facilities, installed in 2008, which can be used to record your event. For an example of such recordings please see the most recent choir webcast, available on the Choir Website. To make use of this facility please fill in the Audio Recording Application Form.
Disabled Access
The Chapel has a fixed ramp available for access through the NW door. The interior of the Chapel is all on one level.
Please note - if additional seating is placed in the Chapel, spaces for disabled patrons are located at the rear of the main Chapel. A hearing loop system is available throughout the whole of the Chapel when the Chapel sound system is used.
To enqire about hiring the Chapel for a concert please download the documents below and contact Mr Stephen Stokes, Chapel Clerk, on 01223 338676 or email.
Attachments
Venue hire for recording »
The Chapel is available for hire as a recording venue for up to three, three hour sessions a day where the Chapel is closed to the public.
We do not have any recording equipment for hire, but are able to provide benches and chairs for the recording artists and engineers.
To enqire about hiring the Chapel for recording commercially, please download the documents below and contact Mr Stephen Stokes, Chapel Clerk, on 01223 338676 or by email.
Attachments
Weddings & Blessings in Chapel »
The College Chapel is only available for Wedding and Blessing Ceremonies to members of the College who are within current residence, or out of residence for no more than five years, in accordance with the Standing Orders of the College.
The College Clergy would be happy to talk to couples who meet these criterias about a forthcoming Ceremony and preperation classes.
A Wedding Ceremony takes place under a Special Licence issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
For further information please email the Chaplain at email or the Dean at email.
Recording your Ceremony
The chapel has excellent recording facilities, installed in 2008, which can be used to record your event. For an example of such recordings please see the most recent choir webcast, available on the Choir Website. To make use of this facility please fill in the Audio Recording Application Form.