St John's College

St John’s College stands on a single 5.5-hectare site beside St Giles’ in Oxford. Founded in 1555 by Sir Thomas White, it began as a men’s college to train Roman Catholic clergy for the Counter-Reformation. After Queen Mary’s death the focus shifted to Anglican priests, law, medicine and PPE. Female students arrived in 1979 and the first woman fellow was appointed in 1990. The college became coeducational in 1979 and now has 419 undergraduates and 244 postgraduates. The college is the wealthiest in Oxford, with assets exceeding £790 million. Its endowment grew from 16th-century gifts and 19th-century city development as ground landlord. It owns the Oxford Playhouse and the Millwall F.C. training ground. In 2018 it topped the Norrington Table and in 2021 ranked second with a score of 79.8. Students once occupied the front quad for five days to protest fossil fuel investments. Seven quadrangles organise the buildings. The Front Quadrangle centres on the Cistercian St Bernard’s College remains, with a 1690 turret clock and an Eric Gill statue of John the Baptist above the Porters’ Lodge. The chapel, begun in 1530, holds tombs of three former presidents and hosts choral services since 1618. Canterbury Quadrangle shows early Italian Renaissance style and contains the four-part library, including the Laudian Library and the 2019 study centre. North Quadrangle includes the 1612 Cook’s Building and the 1676 Senior Common Room.