Information about St John's College, Durham

St John's College is a college of the University of Durham in England. It is one of only two 'Recognised Colleges' of the University, the other being St Chad's. This means that it is financially and constitutionally independent of the University and has a greater degree of administrative independence than the other, 'Maintained', colleges. However, in order to maintain its status as a Recognised college, the University Council must approve the appointment of its Principal and be notified of changes to its constitution.

St John's is Durham's second smallest college, and comprises John's Hall for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying any University course and Cranmer Hall (named after Thomas Cranmer and with its own master or Warden), an Anglican theological college. The Methodist Wesley Study Centre, named after John Wesley, is also based within Cranmer Hall, despite not, technically, being part of the college.

The college is renowned for its Chapel Choir, which has flourished in recent years thanks to the college's commitment to supporting a generous number of Choral Scholarships. Another distinctive feature of St. John's College is its bar, which was created from the cellars of Linton House.

Buildings

Formed from a number of Georgian houses on the Bailey between Durham Cathedral and the River Wear, its setting is spectacular. The main house of the college is Haughton House. The houses which make up Cranmer Hall were once owned by the Bowes-Lyon family (the late Queen Mother's family). The majority of the college buildings are grade II listed, with parts of 3 and 4 South Bailey grade II* listed. Linton House, no 1 South Bailey, has much earlier origins. The frontage seen today was added to an existing timber framed building after the Restoration of the Monarchy. No 2 South Bailey has distinctive circular 'blind' windows which were revealed during a re-rendering in the 1980s, and date the building very precisely to the late 17th century.

The college chapel, dedicated to St Mary, is of Norman origin and was rebuilt in the 1840s, and was re-ordered at the turn of the 21st century. It is known as St Mary the Less. It became the college chapel in 1919, before which it had been the parish church of the South Bailey. It is still a chapel of ease in the parish of St Oswald.

History

Founded as a Church of England theological college in 1909, it became a full constituent college of the University in 1919. In 1958 it was divided into the theological college Cranmer Hall, and the non-theological John's Hall. The Halls have always held to a broadly evangelical tradition.

St John's was the first Church of England Theological College to a have both a lay person and a woman as Principal, Dr Ruth Etchells.

Student Life

For some, St. John's has a less than positive reputation amongst the other colleges at the University owing to its small numbers and a strong, inclusive sense of community. This is, however, to be expected; it is not renowned for its loud and lairy formals, but marked out by the strong Christian ethos- making St. Johns unique from the other colleges of Durham.

Recently, admissions have concentrated on accepting a wider range of students from a variety of different backgrounds, although this process is a slow one. Students attending the college (Known affectionately as Johnians) do not have to be religious in any way; all denominations and backgrounds are accepted and yet over two thirds of Johnians do come from a Christian background, with a distinctly disproportionate of these coming from public schools.

Despite the Christian ethos and strong CU population, St. John's has merits that the other, larger colleges do not; its sense of community. Owing to its small population, it is not surprising that Johnians tend to know one another regardless of year, course, or accommodation (all first and the majority of third years live in college, with the second years required to find their own accommodation), and this bond contributes to College Life immensely. The Johns freshers week is different to many other colleges in the way that relationships form more quickly due to the freshers population being only between 90 to 150. Elected Freshers Reps are generally well known throughout college, with the strongest personalities, thereby giving new Johnians more opportunities for one-on-one interaction, providing a more solid foundation in their first few weeks than in the larger colleges.

The Loo News is a termly paper published anonymously and left in the bathrooms around College detailing scandals, amusing anecdotes, and general gossip pertaining to the students. The pinnacle of the Loo News calender is the Loo News Awards on Johns Day, usually around the 20th June, heightened by the fact that all the students know one another. The awards are voted by the students and winners are presented with a golden toilet roll: categories include 'General Fittest', 'Best Body', 'Radiator Rattler' and the prestigious 'Pink Pashmina Award'.

St. Johns, despite its small size, performs well in a number of Sports such as Women's Basketball, Rowing and Rugby among others. It is also renowned for its contribution to university theatre, with the Bailey Theatre Company producing a successful version of Oscar Wilde's The Importance Of Being Earnest in the Easter Term of 2007 as well as the annual Summer Shakespeare. This involves an outdoor performance on Library Lawn with strawberries and cream and free glasses of Pimms.

Notable alumni

• Richard Adams, pioneer of fair trade and founder of Traidcraft
• Rt Revd Michael Turnbull, Bishop of Durham (1994–2003)
• The late Sir Kingsley Dunham FRS (Fellow St John's Durham)
• Rt Revd John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford
• Professor Douglas Davies, theologian
• Jack Plumley, Sir Herbert Thompson Professor of Egyptology, Cambridge

External links

• St John's College official website
• St John's College JCR undergraduate student organisation
• College Chapel Choir The Website of the College Chapel Choir

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