Jesus College, Cambridge

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Jesus College, Cambridge

Jesus College in the University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge , located in Cambridge, England, is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation university in the Anglosphere....
was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine

Benedictine

Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy....
nunnery by John Alcock

John Alcock (bishop)

John Alcock , was an English churchman.He was born at Beverley in Yorkshire, son of Sir William Alcock, Burgess of Kingston upon Hull and educated at university of Cambridge....
, then Bishop of Ely

Ely

Ely is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England. It is 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge.Ely has been informally accounted a city by virtue of being the seat of a diocese....
. It has been traditionally believed that the nunnery was turned into a college because the nunnery had gained a reputation for licentiousness

Promiscuity

In human sexual behaviour, promiscuity denotes casual sex between many partners. Behavior includes sex with partners who are not one's spouse. It is common in some animal species....
.

The college’s full name is “The College of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Blessed Virgin Mary

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Jesus College in the University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge

Benedictine

John Alcock (bishop)

Ely

Promiscuity

Blessed Virgin Mary

The Blessed Virgin Mary, sometimes shortened to The Blessed Virgin or The Virgin Mary, is a traditional title used by most Christians and most specifically used by liturgical Christians such as Roman Catholics, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics, and some others to describe Mary, mother of Jesus, the mother of...
, Saint John the Evangelist and the glorious Virgin Saint Radegund, near Cambridge”. Its common name comes from the name of its chapel, Jesus Chapel. Founded in the beginning of the 11th century, the chapel is the oldest University building in Cambridge still in use.

When founded in 1496, the college consisted of buildings taken over from the nunnery: namely the chapel, and the cloister attached to it; the nuns’ refectory, which became the college hall; and the former lodging of the prioress, which became the Master’s Lodge. This set of buildings remains the core of the college to this day, and this accounts for its distinctly monastic and non-collegiate character, which sets it apart from other Cambridge colleges. A library was soon added, on the floor above the college hall, and the chapel was considerably modified and reduced in scale by Alcock.

The 500th anniversary of the college’s foundation in 1996 saw the completion of the new Quincentenary Library, designed by Eldred Evans and David Shalev, which was shortly followed by a new accommodation building.

The college is also known for its grounds, which are unlike those of Cambridge’s other old colleges, being much more spacious. Set back from Jesus Lane, all the courts are open on at least one side (with the exception of the Cloister

Cloister

A cloister is a covered walk with an open colonnade on one side, running along the walls of buildings that face a quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cathedral or church usually indicates that it is part of a monastic foundation....
). The main entrance to the college is a walled passage, called the “Chimney” (derived from the French word chemin).

Jesus College is one of the few colleges to allow anyone to walk on the lawns of its courts, with the exception of First Court, Cloister Court and those that are burial sites for deceased nuns from the original nunnery. However, in common with other Cambridge colleges, this privilege is only extended during the summer term. Jesus is one of the more beautiful colleges but gets far fewer tourists than most other colleges due to being slightly away from the centre.

Professor Robert Mair

Robert Mair

Robert James Mair Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers Fellow of the Royal Society is a UK geotechnologist....
, Fellow of St John’s and Professor of Geotechnical Engineering in the university, has been Master of Jesus since March 2001.

Jesus College is the 6th wealthiest college in Cambridge with assets of £127 million (2007).

The college also maintains two choirs, both directed by Daniel Hyde:

Jesus College Choir consists of male and female students and sings regular services twice a week in the chapel. One of the leading choirs in Cambridge, its singers are mainly drawn from the college's own students, but also includes singers from a number of other colleges.
Jesus College Chapel Choir consists of around 20 choristers combined with the Gentlemen of the College Choir, and also sings services twice a week in the chapel. It is unique among Cambridge college choirs in that the choristers are volunteers - that is, they are drawn from schools around the city, and do not attend a particular choir school.

Notable alumni

Name	Birth	Death	Career
Thomas Cranmer Thomas Cranmer Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII of England and Edward VI of England....	1489	1556	Archbishop of Canterbury
John Bale John Bale John Bale was an England churchman, historian and controversialist, and Bishop of Ossory. He wrote the oldest known historical verse drama in English , and developed and published a very extensive list of the works of British authors down to his own time, just as the monastic libraries were being dispersed....	1495	1563	Bishop of Ossory Bishop of Ossory The Bishop of Ossory is the leader of the Diocese of Ossory in south central Ireland. Since the English Reformation there have been different bishops for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory and the Church of Ireland Diocese of Ossory and Cashel....
Thomas Goodrich Thomas Goodrich Thomas Goodrich, or Goodricke was an England ecclesiastic and statesman....	1494	1554	Bishop of Ely Bishop of Ely The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire , together with a section of north-west Norfolk and has its Episcopal see in the Ely, Cambridgeshire, where the seat is located at the Ely Cathedral....
Arthur Golding Arthur Golding Arthur Golding was an England translator.He was the son of Jonathon Golding of Belchamp St Paul and Halsted, Essex, England, an auditor of the Exchequer, and was probably born in London....	1535/6	1606	Protestant propagandist
Sir Fulke Greville Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke, de jure 13th Baron Latimer and 5th Baron Willoughby de Broke , known before 1621 as Sir Fulke Greville, was an Elizabethan era poet, dramatist, and statesman....	1554	1628	Biographer of Sir Philip Sidney Philip Sidney Sir Philip Sidney became one of the Elizabethan era most prominent figures. Famous in his day in England as a poet, courtier and soldier, he remains known as the author of Astrophel and Stella , The Defence of Poetry , and The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia ....
Richard Sterne Richard Sterne Richard Sterne was a Church of England priest, Archbishop of York from 1664 to 1683.He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated Master of Arts in 1618, Bachelor of Divinity in 1625 and Doctor of Divinity in 1635....	1596	1683	Archbishop of York, Master of Jesus College (1634)
John Eliot John Eliot (missionary) John Eliot was a Puritan missionary born in Widford, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, England....	1604	1690	Translated the Bible into Algonquian Algonquian languages The Algonquian languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic languages language family ....
William Beale William Beale William Beale was an England composer and baritone.Beale was born in Landrake, Cornwall. He first served as a chorister at Westminster Abbey before going to sea as a midshipman....	1784	1854	Master of Jesus College (1632)
John Flamsteed John Flamsteed John Flamsteed Fellow of the Royal Society was an England astronomer and the first Astronomer Royal....	1646	1719	First Astronomer Royal Astronomer Royal Astronomer Royal is a senior post in the Royal Household of the Monarch of the United Kingdom. There are two officers, the senior being the Astronomer Royal dating from 22 June 1675; the second is the Astronomer Royal for Scotland dating from 1834....
Thomas Herring Thomas Herring Thomas Herring was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1747 to 1757.He was educated at Wisbech Grammar School and later Jesus College, Cambridge. At Cambridge, he was a contemporary of Matthew Hutton , who succeeded him in turn in each of his dioceses....	1693	1757	Archbishop of Canterbury
Matthew Hutton Matthew Hutton Matthew Hutton may refer to:Matthew Hutton, Archbishop of York, 17th century Archbishop of YorkMatthew Hutton, Archbishop of Canterbury, 18th century Archbishop of both York and later Canterbury...	1693	1758	Archbishop of Canterbury
John Jortin John Jortin John Jortin was an English church historian....	1698	1770	Ecclesiastical historian
David Hartley David Hartley (philosopher) David Hartley was an English philosophy and founder of the Associationism school of psychology....	1705	1757	Philosopher
Laurence Sterne Laurence Sterne Laurence Sterne was an Ireland-born England novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He is best known for his novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy; but he also published Sermons of Laurence Sterne, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics....	1713	1768	Novelist
Henry Venn	1725	1797	A leader of the Evangelical movement in the Church of England
Gilbert Wakefield Gilbert Wakefield Gilbert Wakefield was an English scholar and controversialist.Gilbert Wakefield was the third son of the Rev. George Wakefield, Rector of St Nicholas, Nottingham....	1756	1801	Principal of two nonconformist academies
Robert Malthus	1766	1834	Population theorist
William Otter William Otter File:P1300127BishopO.JPGThe Right Reverend William Otter was the first Principal of King's College London who later served as Bishop of Chichester....	1768	1840	First Principal of King's College London King's College London King's College London is a United Kingdom higher education institution and co-founding constituent college of the University of London. Founded by George IV of the United Kingdom and the Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington in 1829, its royal charter is predated, in England, only by those of the Universities of University of Oxford and Un...
Samuel Taylor Coleridge Samuel Taylor Coleridge Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an England poet, critic and Philosophy who was, along with his friend William Wordsworth, one of the founders of the Romanticism in England and one of the Lake Poets....	1772	1834	Poet, critic and philosopher
Steve Fairbairn Steve Fairbairn Steve Fairbairn was a rower and an influential rowing coach, notably at Jesus College Boat Club , University of Cambridge, Thames Rowing Club and London Rowing Club in the early decades of the 20th century....	1862	1938	Rowing coach
Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch Arthur Quiller-Couch Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch was a Cornwall writer, who published under the pen name of Q. He is primarily remembered for the monumental "Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900" , and for his literary criticism....	1863	1944	Novelist and critic
Sir Harold Scott Harold Scott Sir Harold Richard Scott, Royal Victorian Order, Order of the Bath, Order of the British Empire was Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis of the Metropolitan Police Service from 1945 to 1953....	1887	1969	Commissioner Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is the head of London's Metropolitan Police Service, classing the holder as a chief police officer.... of the Metropolitan Police Service Metropolitan Police Service The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within Greater London, excluding the City of London which is the responsibility of a City of London Police.... from 1945 to 1953
E. M. W. Tillyard E. M. W. Tillyard Eustace Mandeville Wetenhall Tillyard was a British classical scholar and literary scholar. He was a Fellow in English at Jesus College and later Master of Jesus College ....	1889	1962	Literary critic, master (1945-1959)
Alistair Cooke Alistair Cooke Alistair Cooke Order of the British Empire was a United Kingdom/ United States journalist and Presenter.Born in North West England and educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, he became a naturalized United States citizen in later life, and lived in New York City with his family, reporting mainly for the BBC....	1908	2004	Broadcaster
Jacob Bronowski Jacob Bronowski Jacob Bronowski was a United Kingdom mathematician and biologist of history of the Jews in Poland origin. He is best remembered as the presenter and writer of the 1973 BBC television documentary film series, The Ascent of Man....	1908	1974	Broadcaster
James Reeves James Reeves The real name of James Reeves was John Morris , a United Kingdom writer known for his poetry and contributions to children's literature and the literature of collected traditional songs....	1909	1978	Author and literary critic
Don Siegel Don Siegel Donald Siegel was an influential United States film director and film producer. His name appeared in the credits of his films as both Don Siegel and Donald Siegel....	1912	1991	American Film Director and Producer
David Clive Crosbie Trench David Clive Crosbie Trench Sir David Clive Crosbie Trench, Order of St Michael and St George, Military Cross, Deputy Lieutenant 2 June 1915-1988 was a United Kingdom soldier and colonial governor....	1915	1988	24th Governor of Hong Kong Governor of Hong Kong The Governor of Hong Kong was the Head of Government of the Hong Kong Government, ex-officio Commander-in-Chief and Vice-Admiral of Hong Kong during British rule between 1841 and 1997....
Peter Mitchell Peter Mitchell Notable people called Peter Mitchell include:Peter D. Mitchell , British chemistPeter Mitchell , Canadian politician*Peter Mitchell , English golfer...	1920	1992	Biochemist
Raymond Williams Raymond Williams Raymond Henry Williams was a Wales academic, novelist and critic. He was an influential figure within the New Left and in wider culture. His writings on politics, culture, the mass media and literature are a significant contribution to the Marxist critique of culture and the arts....	1921	1988	Literary and cultural critic
Edwin Boston Edwin Boston The Reverend Edwin Richard Boston Master of Arts , known as Teddy Boston, was a Church of England clergyman and author. He built a narrow gauge railway in the grounds of his Rectory at Cadeby, Leicestershire, Leicestershire, and was immortalized as "the Fat Clergyman" in the Railway Series of children's books by the W....	1924	1986	clergy Clergy Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. The term comes from the Greek language ?????? - kleros, "a lot", "that which is assigned by lot" or metaphorically, "heritage".... man and steam enthusiast
J.B. Steane J.B. Steane John Barry Steane is an England music critic and musicologist. He attended Jesus College, Cambridge, University of Cambridge where he studied English under A.P....	1928		Music critic and musicologist
Michael Podro Michael Podro Michael Podro CBE, Fellow of the British Academy was a United Kingdom Art history. Podro, the son of Jewish refugees from central Europe, was born in London and grew up in Hendon....	1931	2008	Art historian
Lord Renfrew Colin Renfrew, Baron Renfrew of Kaimsthorn Andrew Colin Renfrew, Baron Renfrew of Kaimsthorn is an United Kingdom archaeologist, noted for his work on the radiocarbon revolution, the paleolinguistics, archaeogenetics, and the prevention of Illicit antiquities....	1937		Archaeologist
Lisa Jardine Lisa Jardine Lisa Anne Jardine Order of the British Empire , n?e Lisa Anne Bronowski, is a United Kingdom historian of the early modern period. She is professor of Renaissance Studies and Director of the Centre for Editing Lives and Letters at Queen Mary, University of London, and is Chairman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority ....	1944		Literary critic
Roger Scruton Roger Scruton Roger Vernon Scruton is an England conservative philosopher....	1944		Philosopher
David Hare David Hare (dramatist) Sir David Hare is an English people playwright and Theatre director and film director....	1947		Playwright
Simon Hornblower Simon Hornblower Simon Hornblower is Professor of Classics and George Grote Professor of Ancient History at University College London....	1949		Prof of Classics and Grote Prof of Ancient History UCL
Anthony Wilson Anthony Wilson Anthony Wilson is a jazz guitarist and composer. He is the son of bandleader Gerald Wilson....	1950	2007	Journalist, founder of Factory Records
Geoff Hoon Geoff Hoon Geoffrey 'Geoff' William Hoon is a United Kingdom politician. He is Labour Party Member of Parliament for Ashfield , as well as former Labour Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury....	1953		Chief Whip and Secretary to the Treasury
Nick Hornby Nick Hornby Nick Hornby is an England novelist and essayist. He was brought up in Maidenhead and was educated at Maidenhead Grammar School and Jesus College, Cambridge....	1957		Novelist and journalist
Kimberley Rew Kimberley Rew Kimberley Rew is an England rock and roll singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the founder of Katrina and the Waves and was also guitarist in the Soft Boys from 1978 to 1980....			Songwriter and guitarist
Prince Edward Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh....	1964		Earl of Wessex
James Wood James Wood (critic) James Wood is an England literary criticism and novelist. He is Professor of the Practice of Literary Criticism at Harvard and a literary critic at The New Yorker....	1965		Literary critic
Sir Sir Sir is an honorific used as a title and in several other modern contexts.It was once used as a courtesy title among equals, but in common usage it is now usually reserved for one of superior Command hierarchy or Social status, such as an educator or commanding officer, or in age ; as a form of address from a merchant to a customer; in for... Chintaman Dwarkanath Deshmukh	1896	1982	Finance Minister Finance minister The finance minister is a Cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, Fiscal policy, and control finances.... of India India India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....

See also :Category:Alumni of Jesus College, Cambridge

Masters and Fellows of Jesus College

See List of Masters of Jesus College, Cambridge

List of Masters of Jesus College, Cambridge

The following persons have served as Master of Jesus College, Cambridge*1497 - 1505 William Chubbes*1505 - 1516 John Eccleston*1516 - 1516 Thomas Alcock...

See also :Category: Fellows of Jesus College, Cambridge

Chapel

Although Jesus College was not founded until 1496, it is unique in as much as the chapel and other buildings date from the 12th and 13th centuries. Originally it was the Benedictine Convent of St Mary and St Radegund, which was dissolved by John Alcock, Bishop of Ely.

The Chapel was founded in 1157 and took until 1245 to complete, was cruciform in shape, the nave had both north and south aisles. A high, pitched roof was surmounted by a belfry and steeple, this collapsed in 1277. The chapel was also used as the parish church of St Radegund. Twice the chapel was ravaged by fire, 1313 and 1376.

When the college took over the precincts, the parish was renamed after the college as Jesus parish, with the churchyard still being used for burials, this however, was short lived, as by the middle of the 16th century Jesus parish was absorbed into that of All Saints.

The chapel was much modified, with the western two thirds of the nave being converted into college rooms.

Misericords

The misericord

Misericord

A misericord is a small wooden shelf underneath folding seats in Church installed to provide some level of comfort for those standing during long periods of prayer....
s were created by Pugin between 1849 and 1853, and used fragments of the misericords dating from 1500, which had been preserved in the Master's Lodge as templates.

Jesus College, Cambridge

Notable alumni

Masters and Fellows of Jesus College

Chapel

Misericords

See also

External links