St John's College News
Going Deeper - Bible Study, Reading Groups & Student Alpha
Going Deeper - Bible Study, Reading Groups & Student AlphaWe try to keep all services in Chapel as open as possible so that everyone feels welcome but that does not mean faith at university should be superficial. Each week there are a variety of small groups that meet around college for discussion, prayer and support to help you deepen your faith. From the small mid-week eucharist at 8am on a Wednesday morning to the Christian Union prayers…read moreCompline - Chill Out by Candlelight
Compline - Chill Out by CandlelightWhether you come for the atmosphere or the port and hot chocolate, it’s the ideal late-night chill out Even if you’ve heard of evensongs and eucharists, Compline may well be a new one for you. It’s an ancient form of night prayer going back over a thousand years and is not just a great way to chill out during a hectic week but also a really good place to get to know other Chapel-goers.…read moreAsking the Big Questions – Guest Preachers & Sunday Evensong
Asking the Big Questions – Guest Preachers & Sunday EvensongHave you figured out the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything yet? See if any of our distinguished guest speakers (from scientists and novelists, to bishops and missionaries) do better than old boy Douglas Adams’ ‘42’ Chapel is not about indoctrinating people and saying we have all the answers but rather about encouraging you to ask the big questions, to think for yourselves…read moreAn Oasis of Calm - 6.30pm Choral Evensongs
An Oasis of Calm - 6.30pm Choral Evensongs(Daily except Mondays) Where else would you get a world-famous choir singing every evening on your doorstep? Cambridge life is intense. If you haven’t found that out yet, you soon will and though you might not expect it (may never even have been to Church before), Choral Evensong could be the answer. It’s 45 minutes of peace and quiet where no one will bother you and…read moreWelcoming the World - 10.30am Sung Eucharists
Welcoming the World - 10.30am Sung EucharistsA formal, cathedral-style service with visitors from all round the world and sherry afterwards Sometimes in Cambridge it can feel that all you ever see are other students but the 10.30am Sung Eucharist is a real mixing-pot. There are a number of families, often there to support the boys in the choir, a good number of people of all ages who work and live in the town, and a constant flow…read moreWednesday Communion in Chapel
Wednesday Communion in ChapelWednesdays during term time 8.30am - 8.50am Holy Communion in Chapel all students and staff are welcome to attend this simple weekly said Eucharist.read moreThe Heart of the Chapel Community - 8.30am College Communion & Chapel Breakfast
The Heart of the Chapel Community - 8.30am College Communion & Chapel BreakfastWhere everybody knows your name! It may seem rather early but the 8.30am Communion is the main student service and the one place where you can get totally involved and play a big part in writing or leading the service (or if you prefer, just come along and get to know people). Tourists aren’t allowed, though we do often have visiting families or friends, or else Old Johnians back to…read moreBeing Johnian - Annual Highlights for the Whole of College
Being Johnian - Annual Highlights for the Whole of CollegeCollege is not like school, nobody will make you come to anything. It’s entirely your choice but some things are pretty much unmissable at least once in your time here and are part and parcel of being Johnian. Matriculation Service, Tuesday of Freshers’ Week Your formal welcome to the College. Held on the Tuesday of Freshers’ Week, immediately after the Matriculation Photograph and…read moreFor students
For studentsSt John’s has a lively Chapel Community with lots going on – from big choral services with our world-famous choir to the informal College Communion with our worship band and lots of student involvement; from pilgrimages all round the world to parties, early morning punting and extreme complines. There’s something for everyone, no matter how great or how little your faith, whatever your…read moreVenue hire for recording
Venue hire for recordingThe 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…read moreConcert hire
Concert hireSt 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…read moreThe Chapel Organ
The Chapel OrganIn the late 1980s it became apparent that the mechanism of the organ was in need of major reconstruction and it was clear that the time had come for the organ to be dismantled completely so that thorough repairs might take place.Following the appointment of a consultant in 1987 and a College committee, discussions took place about the future of the instrument. An early decision was that the…read moreThe New Chapel
The New ChapelThe existing Chapel was built between 1866 - 69. The design owes much to the Decorated or 'middle pointed' period, which was then almost universally held to be the only correct style for all ecclesiastical buildings. By a happy chance for George Gilbert Scott, who was selected as architect and who was one of the strongest advocates of this view, it reflected the style of the old chapel, then…read moreSchool Visits to the Library
School Visits to the LibraryThe Library welcomes educational visits from schools, colleges, academies and other organisations. We have worked with local schools to develop sessions delivered in the historical setting of our Old Library, based on our wide-ranging special collections. These sessions are very flexible and can be tailored to suit the needs of individual classes. Some examples of previous…read moreExhibitions
ExhibitionsThe following list details current, forthcoming, and past exhibitions held in the Library. These are usually displayed in the Library Exhibition Area located between the Old Library and the Working Library (on entering the Working Library turn left and walk through the reference section and periodicals area). The Exhibition Area is open to visitors Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. Please note that…read moreUsing University card as Library card
Using University card as Library cardFrom Michaelmas term 2011, most of our readers, including all current undergraduate and graduate students, will be able to use their university cards for borrowing materials from the College Library. Student borrowing records from the University and other College libraries will also be recorded on the one card.read moreUseful links
Useful linksCambridge University Library ResourcesCambridge University Library Catalogue gives information on the holdings of the main University Library.Cambridge University Library Information Services for access to online services provided by the University Library, including:Online journalsElectronic booksOnline databasesCross SearchCambridge Departmental and College LibrariesUniversity of Cambridge…read moreJohnian Prize and Medal winners
Johnian Prize and Medal winnersJohnian recipients of the Copley Medal of the Royal SocietyJohnian recipients of the Royal Medal of the Royal SocietyJohnian Bakerian Lecturers of the Royal Societyread moreThe New Library
The New LibraryDesigned by Edward Cullinan Architects, and built by R. G. Carter Ltd (Cambridge), the new College Library at St John's was opened to students on 11 January 1994. St John's College is the second largest in Cambridge with a student population of 800 and a Fellowship of 140. The College's last Library, the Old Library, was built in the early seventeeth century and is still in use. It is hoped that…read moreScience and Maths
Science and MathsMost bound Science and Mathematics journals are shelved on the Mezzanine Floor of the Library. Unbound recent issues are kept in the Periodicals Area on the Ground Floor (left past the issue desk). All on-line access is provided via the University Library's ejournals portal (Physical sciences and maths | Life sciences) and therefore may be subject to the same restrictions.TitleHoldingsShelf-…read morePhilosophy and Theology
Philosophy and TheologyMost bound Philosophy and Theology journals are shelved on the First Floor of the Library. Unbound recent issues are kept in the Periodicals Area on the Ground Floor (left past the issue desk). All on-line access is provided via the University Library's ejournals portal (Philosophy, Theology) and therefore may be subject to the same restrictions.TitleHoldingsShelf-markLocationFull text access via…read moreMedical and Veterinary Science
Medical and Veterinary ScienceMost bound Medical and Veterinary Science journals are shelved on the Second Floor of the Library. Unbound recent issues are kept in the Periodicals Area on the Ground Floor (left past the issue desk). All on-line access is provided via the University Library's ejournals portal (Medicine | Veterinary Science) and therefore may be subject to the same restrictions.TitleHoldingsShelf-…read moreLaw
LawMost bound Law journals are shelved on the Third Floor of the Library. Unbound recent issues are kept in the Periodicals Area on the Ground Floor (left past the issue desk). A fuller collection of on-line Law journals is available from the Squire Law Library. All on-line access is provided via the University Library's ejournals portal (Law) and therefore may be subject to the same restrictions.…read moreLanguage and Literature
Language and LiteratureMost bound volumes of Language and Literary journals are shelved on the First Floor of the Library. Most bound volumes of Bibliographical journals are kept in the Rare Books Reading Room on the Ground Floor. Unbound recent issues are kept in the Periodicals Area on the Ground Floor (left past the issue desk). All on-line access is provided via the University Library's ejournals portal (Classics,…read moreHistory and Archaeology
History and ArchaeologyMost bound volumes of History and Archaeology journals are shelved on the Second Floor of the Library. Unbound recent issues are kept in the Periodicals Area on the Ground Floor (left past the issue desk). Some of the more specialist titles go straight into the Basement. All on-line access is provided via the University Library's ejournals portal (History) and therefore may be subject to the…read more