Special services

In addition to the regular services, the Chapel organises a number of special events and services which take place during the year.

Advent Carol Service

The Advent Carol Services will next be held on Saturday 29 November 2025 at 6.00pm and Sunday 30 November 2025 at 3.00pm.  The Sunday service will be planned to broadcast live by BBC Radio 3. 

Please note that priority will be given to members of the College. It is with regret that we are unable to accept applications from members of the public to this service. This service is unsuitable for babies and toddlers. Applications for this service will open in October 2025. For more information and to apply for tickets please follow this link.

Epiphany Carol Service

These highly atmospheric candle-lit services are planned for Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 January 2026 at 6.00pm.

This Candlelit Service of readings and music celebrate the season of Epiphany. 

This service, owing to the hand held candles, is unsuitable for babies and toddlers. Applications for seats will open in the November. Please note that priority will be given to members of the College.   For more information and to apply for tickets please follow this link.

Ash Wednesday

This service will take place on Ash Wednesday, 18 February 2026 and is expected to be at 6.30pm.
 

Lent Meditation  

These highly atmospheric services of readings and music for Lent and Passiontide is on Saturday 14 March 2026 at 6.00pm.

This service is unsuitable for babies and toddlers. Applications for seats will open in the December. Please note that priority will be given to members of the College. For more information and to apply for tickets please follow this link.

Ascension Day

Ascension Day next falls on Thursday 29 May 2025. Every year on Ascension Day the Choir ascends the 163ft Chapel Tower and sings the Ascension Day Carol. 

See all Chapel events

Sunday Evensong Sermons

This term's title is Earth, sky and sea – Faith perspectives on nature, environment and land.

Our preachers will reflect on how we share this planet with all living things, and we are beginning to understand fully our deep inter-connectedness to nature and the environment. During this Easter Season, we remember that the story of creation began in a garden, the good news of the resurrection was first proclaimed in a garden, and the risen Christ was first thought to be a gardener. We reflect on the blessings of the earth, sky and sea and we welcome theologians and environmentalists who will explore the spirituality and the expanse of nature, help us discover what we can learn from our wonderful world, and encourage us to become enablers of new life in all its fullness.

This Term's Sunday sermons may be found following this link.

Sunday Eucharist Sermons

Sermons Preached at the Eucharist this term may be found following this link.

Each term the Sunday Evensongs have a theme and guest preachers from best-selling novelists like Salley Vickers to eminent scientists like John Polkinghorne have encouraged us to think more deeply.

For a selection of our most recent themed sermons, click here.

Annual Highlights for students

Matriculation Service (Tuesday of Fresher’s Week).
Your formal welcome to the College, immediately after the Matriculation Photograph.

Advent Carol Services (Last weekend of full Michaelmas Term)
Broadcast live on Radio 3 and followed by Advent Hall, these are the most popular services of the year by far. Current students get priority.

Epiphany Carol Service (First weekend of Lent Term)
This is one of our most atmospheric services, lit only by candlelight.

A Lenten Meditation (usually the last Saturday of Lent Term)
A meditative service with music, poetry and singing.

Graduation Service (Graduation Day)
Just after the graduation photograph, this is a service to celebrate the end of your time at St John’s, and is open to visitors who come to support you at graduation.

Other highlights

Study and Reading Groups

Other than in the Easter Term there is usually a reading group or Bible Study group, convened by the Chaplain. The College also has a Christian Union.

Chapel trips and events

From time to time the Chaplain organizes visits or social occasions for students, which he advertises to them directly.

The Dean

Victoria Johnson came to St John’s from the Metropolitical Cathedral Church of St Peter, York, known as York Minster, where she was Canon Precentor, overseeing the musical and worshipping life of the Cathedral. Prior to this she was a Residentiary Canon at Ely Cathedral, and a priest in Manchester Diocese being ordained there in 2007. She read theology and religious studies at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and studied at the Institute of Sacred Music and Divinity School in Yale, USA. Prior to ordination Victoria worked as a Post-Doctoral Cancer Research Scientist at Manchester University after gaining a BSc and PhD in Biochemistry from Leicester University. Her research interests span Liturgy, Music, Homiletics, Religion and Science, apologetics and mission theology, and she has recently published her first book, On Voice: Speech, Song, Silence, Human and Divine, (Darton, Longman and Todd, 2024)  As Dean, Victoria oversees Chapel life and contributes more broadly to the life of the College community.

The Chaplain

Graham grew up by the sea in Kent before moving to London where he studied for an MA in English at King’s College and then worked for several years in public policy and external relations within Government and the private sector.

As Chaplain, Graham seeks to be a visible presence around College as an open, approachable and non-judgemental listener to anyone, of any faith or none, and to ensure the Chapel is a place where all are welcome. 

Graham trained for ordination in Cambridge at Westcott House and Gonville and Caius College and was ordained at St Paul’s Cathedral in 2021. Before coming to St John’s, Graham was Curate of Hampstead Parish Church in London where he was involved in all aspects of parish life including social outreach and youth ministry as well as the rich musical tradition of the church. 

In his spare time, Graham loves music, reading, theatre, listening to podcasts (mainly politics and history) travelling and cooking. Graham and his wife also spend a lot of time in the service of their cocker spaniel Collins, who is a big fan of Cambridge.

The Director of Music

Chris Gray is new to St John’s, having moved to Cambridge after Easter. A native of Bangor, Northern Ireland, he read music as an undergraduate at Pembroke College Cambridge before spending a year as Organ Scholar at Guildford Cathedral while studying postgraduate performance at the Royal College of Music. In 2000 Chris moved to Cornwall to be Assistant Organist at Truro Cathedral, and in 2008 he was made Director of Music, with responsibility for the cathedral choir and its six sung services each week. He has broadcast and recorded extensively, as well as commissioning new works from many of the UK’s leading composers; and as Musical Director of Three Spires Singers and Orchestra he has conducted most of the large-scale choral repertoire. A Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, Chris has given recitals on many of the finest organs in the UK and further afield. 

At the heart of Chris’s responsibilities at St John’s is direction of the College Choir: he works with the Choristers, Choral Scholars, Lay Clerks and Organ Scholars to provide music that enhances the liturgy of the beautiful Gilbert Scott chapel, upholding a tradition that dates from the 1670s. 

Chapel Clerk 

Stephen came to St John’s in 2007, having previously served as Verger at Romsey Abbey and St Marylebone Parish Church in London. He has been a Verger since 1999. His responsibilities are for the care of the Chapel and associated administration under the direction of the Dean.

Stephen is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Chapel building, he oversees the administration of the Chapel and is the prime contact for all external hirers of the Chapel.

In August 2016 he obtained the Diploma for the Church of England Guild of Vergers with honours. Stephen currently serves as General Secretary to the Church of England Guild of Vergers. 

In 2020 Stephen was appointed as the Ostiarius of the Convocation of Canterbury, an honorary role with the House of Bishops in the See of Canterbury.

In 2021 the Church of England Guild of Vergers bestowed upon Stephen the Fellowship of the Guild, this is the highest honour that can be given by the Guild.

Assistant Verger

John Boulter works with the Chapel Clerk and assists at many of the College's services.