Community
Life at St John’s is rich, varied and full of belonging. Students, staff and Fellows shape College life together, creating a welcoming community where kindness is part of everyday life.
What makes St John's special?
From life on the Bailey beside Durham Cathedral to music, sport, friendship and shared meals, John’s is a small and welcoming community where people quickly get to know one another by name.
Whether you’re trying a new sport, joining a society, finding support through a difficult week, attending a formal dinner, or simply enjoying coffee with friends, there are countless ways to become part of College life. Explore the communities, traditions and opportunities that make St John’s such a distinctive place to live, learn and grow.
Our community in pictures
Throughout the year, community at St John’s is formed through shared meals, events, conversation, worship, sport, music, volunteering and the everyday rhythms of College life.
Community
In the John's Chronicle
22 December 2025
Michaelmas Term at John’s Bar – The Manager’s POV
Bar Manager, Dolcie Hughes-Penzer, gives an update on all that the bar has had to offer this term, from Freshers Week to Oktoberfest. John’s Bar, I hope, is a place you all know and love. It’s incredibly rare to head down into the Cellar without spotting at least a few familiar John’s faces, whether you […]
1 December 2025
A Day in St John’s: Postgrad Life in 2025
Simeng Wang describes her experience of John’s as a postgrad. As a second-year PhD candidate in Law, I’ve come to know St John’s not just as a college, but as a real home. From the quiet corners for study to the familiar faces around College, life here has settled into a rhythm that feels both […]
31 January 2024
Embracing Warmth and Friendship at St John’s College – from the perspective of an international student
Lu Yunqi describes her positive experience at St John’s as a Chinese Student, where she has made many cherished memories.