Sunday Evensong Sermons

Past tense, future perfect? Learning from the history of faith

This term’s sermon series invites the preachers to help our faith learn from the past. The preachers have chosen figures from the 16^th and 17^th centuries in order to suggest ways in which our faith might deepen through a closer encounter with their life and work. 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.

Meditation on the Passion of Christ (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, such as tea and cake in Easter Term as an escape from revision. Details are made known to students via Facebook.

Making a Difference

We encourage people to get involved in making a difference to others through their faith. Our biggest collective commitment is the ‘Walworth Trip’ at the end of Michaelmas, when a group travel down to Walworth in London to help at the Church of St John the Evangelist. We run a party for children from the local area, help with the activities and share a meal. We also join in the fun with the local community in the evening at their social event. In the Lent Term we will be participating in Amnesty's 'Write for Rights' Campaign.

The Dean

The Rev'd Dr Mark Oakley read Theology at London and Oxford before being ordained in St Paul’s Cathedral in 1993. He served his title at St John’s Wood Church and then served as Chaplain to the Bishop of London, Rector of St Paul’s, Covent Garden (known as ‘the Actors’ Church), Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe and, from 2010 to 2018, Chancellor and Residentiary Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral. He is a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Kings College London and Visiting Scholar at Sarum College. He is also Canon Theologian of Wakefield cathedral and Canon Emeritus of Holy Trinity cathedral, Brussels. Since 1996 he has also been a Deputy Priest in Ordinary to HM the Queen. He was appointed Dean in 2018.

His duties as Dean include the overall responsibility of the conduct of the services in the College Chapel and oversight of pastoral care provided by the Chapel within the College community. He is also responsible for the appointment of clergy to the College’s 39 livings (parishes) with which the College has long had official connections. He is Tutor for College students of mathematics and computer sciences.  Dr Oakley is the author of several books, the latest being My Sour-Sweet Days and The Splash of Words: Believing in Poetry. He is an Ambassador for StopHate UK, Patron of Tell MAMA (supporting those affected by anti-Muslim hate crime) and a Trustee of the Civil Liberties Trust. His interests include poetry, theatre and human rights.

The Chaplain

Andrew Hammond was an undergraduate at Clare College, and then worked in classical music for nearly twenty years: first as a singer, then in arts administration. He was ordained in 2007, and has worked in two London parishes and at St Paul’s Cathedral. Before coming to St John’s he was Chaplain at King’s College.

The Chaplain supports the College Tutors who are the primary point of pastoral care for the 900 Junior members of the College (undergraduates and research students). The Chaplain is available to everyone in College – Fellows, Students and Staff.

The Interim Director of Music

Stephen Darlington was Director of Music and Tutor in Music at Christ Church from 1985 to 2018.  Previously he was Master of the Music at St. Alban’s Abbey and Artistic Director of the world-famous International Organ Festival. At Christ Church he maintained the highest choral traditions of the Church of England in the Cathedral whilst also developing the College as a centre of academic musical excellence. An extensive discography, comprising over sixty CDs, includes several award-winning recordings.  Stephen was President of the Royal College of Organists from 2000 to 2002 and until 2018 was Choragus of the University of Oxford. He has a Lambeth Doctorate in Music, is an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music, Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music and Emeritus Honorary Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. He remains Emeritus Professor of Music at Oxford and Emeritus Student (Fellow) of Christ Church. He was awarded an M.B.E in the New Years Honours List, 2019. 

Director of St John's Voices

Graham Walker studied mathematics as a Choral Scholar at St John’s College, Cambridge, and was subsequently awarded a scholarship and bursary to study cello at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Graham has performed as a cellist across Europe and North and South America.

Graham is a highly respected choral conductor, and directs several choirs and orchestras. Alongside his work with St John's Voices, Graham is  Director of Music at Emmanuel College and Musical Director of two other choirs.

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