Jesus College, Cambridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jesus College
College gatehouse seen from the "Chimney"
Coat of arms of Jesus College, being the canting arms of the founder John Alcock, Bishop of Ely
No scarf found for Jesus 2-sided
University	University of Cambridge
Location	Jesus Lane (map)
Coordinates	52°12′33″N 00°07′24″E / 52.20917°N 0.12333°E / 52.20917; 0.12333 (Jesus College)
Full name	The College of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist and the glorious Virgin Saint Radegund, within the City and University of Cambridge
Latin name	Collegium Beatissime Marie Virginis Sancti Johannis Evangeliste et Gloriose Virginis Sancte Radegundis iuxta Cantebriggiam
Abbreviation	JE
Motto	Prosperum iter facias (Latin)
Motto in English	"May your journey be successful"
Founder	John Alcock
Established	1496; 529 years ago (1496)
Named after	Jesus
Sister college	Jesus College, Oxford
Master	Sonita Alleyne
Undergraduates	538 (2022-23)
Postgraduates	395 (2022-23)
Map
Location in Central Cambridge

Jesus College is one of the colleges that make up the famous University of Cambridge. Its full name is quite long: The College of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist and the glorious Virgin Saint Radegund, near Cambridge. But everyone just calls it Jesus College, named after its chapel, Jesus Chapel.

It was started in 1496 by John Alcock, who was a bishop at the time. He built it on the land of an old nunnery from the 1100s. The college's symbol is a cockerel, which is a fun nod to its founder's last name, Alcock. For about 300 years, from 1560 to 1860, Jesus College mainly trained people to become clergy in the Church of England.

Jesus College is one of the wealthiest colleges in Cambridge. It has large grounds, including sports fields, and is close to its boathouse. Three people from Jesus College have won a Nobel Prize. Also, two fellows (senior members) from the college have become judges at the International Court of Justice.

In 2019, Sonita Alleyne became the Master (head) of Jesus College. This was 40 years after the college first started accepting women students. She is also the first black leader of a college at either Oxford or Cambridge University.

A Look Back: History of Jesus College

When Jesus College was founded in 1496, it used buildings from an old nunnery called St Mary and St Radegund. This nunnery was built in the early 1100s. The college chapel is actually the oldest university building in Cambridge that is still used today! It's even older than the college itself by 350 years.

The buildings taken from the nunnery included the chapel, the cloister (a covered walkway), the nuns' dining hall (which became the college hall), and the prioress's (head nun's) living area (which became the Master's Lodge). These buildings are still the heart of the college. This is why Jesus College has a unique, old monastic (monk-like) style compared to other Cambridge colleges. Soon after it started, a library was added. The chapel was also changed quite a bit by Bishop Alcock. When it first opened, the college had a Master, six fellows, and six scholars.

What Students Study: Academic Life

Jesus College welcomes both undergraduate and graduate students. They can study almost any subject offered at the university. However, the college often accepts more students for subjects like engineering, medicine, law, and natural sciences. They also have many students studying mathematics, economics, history, languages, and human, social, and political sciences. The college also offers many scholarships to help students with their studies.

The college usually does very well in the Tompkins Table. This is an unofficial ranking of Cambridge colleges based on how well their undergraduate students perform in exams. Students from Jesus College have also been part of the Cambridge Apostles, a famous intellectual society.

Buildings and Grounds: Exploring the College

The Gatehouse looking into First Court

Getting Inside: The Entrance

The main way to enter Jesus College is through a walled passage called the "Chimney." This name comes from an old French word meaning "little path." The Chimney leads directly to the Porter's Lodge, where you check in, and then into First Court. Most of the courtyards at the college are open on at least one side.

Reading and Learning: Libraries

The Quincentenary Library

Cloister Court

The Quincentenary Library is the main library at Jesus College. It's open 24 hours a day for students. This library was built to celebrate the college's 500th anniversary in 1996. It has a very large collection of law books on its ground floor.

The Old Library

The Old Library was used regularly until 1912. It still holds over 9,000 old books. Researchers can visit it by making an appointment. This library also has the Malthus Collection. These are books from the family of Thomas Malthus, a famous scholar. His book An Essay on the Principle of Population influenced Charles Darwin.

Playing and Relaxing: College Grounds

Jesus College has large sports grounds right on its campus. These include fields for football, rugby, cricket, tennis, squash, basketball, and hockey. The Jesus College Boat House is also very close by, just across Midsummer Common.

The college often displays sculptures by modern artists. They have shown works by famous artists like Sir Antony Gormley and Sir Eduardo Paolozzi. The college grounds also have a nature trail. This trail was inspired by poems written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge when he was a student there.

Unlike many other colleges, Jesus College lets people walk on the grass in most of its courtyards. However, you can't walk on the grass in First Court, Cloister Court, or areas where nuns from the old nunnery are buried.

Chapel and Choir: Music and Worship

Chapel Court

The College Chapel

Jesus Chapel

The College Chapel was started in 1157 and finished in 1245. It is thought to be the oldest university building in Cambridge still in use. It was originally the chapel for the Benedictine Convent of St. Mary and St. Radegund.

When the college took over in the 1400s, the chapel was changed a lot by Bishop Alcock. It was made smaller to fit the needs of a college chapel. Parts of the original chapel became college rooms and even part of the Master's Lodge.

The chapel has beautiful wooden seats with carvings called misericords. These were made by architect Augustus Pugin between 1849 and 1853. The chapel also has lovely stained glass windows.

Services are held every day during term time. Choral (sung) services happen several times a week. The chapel is also known for its great sound, making it a popular place for concerts and recordings.

Stained glass of John Alcock

The College Choirs

Jesus College has two well-known choirs: the College Choir and the Chapel Choir.

• The College Choir has male and female students. They sing at services twice a week in the chapel. Many of its singers are from Jesus College, but some come from other colleges too.
• The Chapel Choir is made up of about 20 younger singers, called choristers, along with the lower voices from the College Choir. They also sing services twice a week. What's special about this choir is that its choristers are volunteers from schools around Cambridge. They don't have to go to a special choir school.

Many talented musicians have been part of the chapel's music team. Some have gone on to become important organists at famous places like Westminster Abbey.

College Grace: Mealtime Traditions

Jesus College in 1690, by David Loggan

Before formal dinners at Jesus College, a Latin prayer called the Oratio Ante Cibum (Prayer before Food) is said. It thanks God for the food.

After dinner, a shorter prayer or response is usually used:

• The person leading the dinner says: Laus Deo (Praise be to God)
• Everyone else in the college replies: Deo Gratias (Thanks be to God)

Student Life: Fun and Activities

Jesus College May Ball, 2012

Student Groups

Even though Jesus College is one of the older colleges, it has a friendly and relaxed feel. This is partly thanks to its active student unions: the Jesus College Student Union (JCSU) and the Jesus College Graduate Union (MCR). These groups organize many social, cultural, and sports events all year round. The John Hughes Arts Festival, started by students in 2014, offers a wide range of art events.

Jesus College also hosts a big annual party called the May Ball. Famous musicians like James Bay and Clean Bandit have performed there.

Sports at Jesus College

Jesus College offers many sports, including rowing, football, rugby, hockey, tennis, squash, and basketball. The college usually has several teams for each sport. The Jesus College Boat Club is especially strong. Its top men's rowing team has always done very well in the university's rowing races. The boat club also organizes its own annual races called the Fairbairn Cup.

Dining at College: Hall

A formal three-course dinner, called Formal Hall, is served five nights a week in the college's main dining hall. Students and staff wear gowns for this meal. Graduate students also have a special dinner called Grad Hall once a week.

The college also offers more casual dining for lunch and dinner, as well as brunch on weekends. There's also a popular student bar called JBar, which sells various drinks, including its own special beer, JPA (Jesus Pale Ale).

Leaders and Scholars: Masters and Fellows

Masters of the College

Sonita Alleyne became the Master of Jesus College in 2019. She is the current head of the college. Before her, Ian White was the Master. Other past Masters include:

• Robert Mair (2001–2011), an engineering professor.
• Professor David Crighton (1997–2000), a professor of applied mathematics.
• Baron Renfrew of Kaimsthorn (1986–1996), a professor of archaeology.
• Sir Alan Cottrell (1973–1986), a materials science professor and later a top science advisor to the Prime Minister.

Famous Scholars: Fellows of the College

Three members of Jesus College have won Nobel Prizes:

• Philip W. Anderson won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1977.
• Peter D. Mitchell won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1978.
• Eric Maskin shared the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2007.

Many important legal figures have also been fellows of the college. For example, Professor Robert Jennings and Professor James Crawford both became judges at the International Court of Justice.

Notable Alumni: Famous People from Jesus College

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  John Bale, a historian and bishop.

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  Richard Bancroft, an Archbishop of Canterbury.

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  Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke, an Elizabethan poet and statesman.

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  John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal.

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  Thomas Herring, an Archbishop of Canterbury.

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  Laurence Sterne, a novelist.

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  Steve Fairbairn, a famous rowing coach.

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  Alistair Cooke, a British/American journalist.

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  Geoff Hoon, a former UK government minister.

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  Dominic Raab, a former UK government minister.

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  Andrew Mitchell, a UK Member of Parliament.

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  Nick Hornby, a novelist.

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  Grace Chatto, a member of the band Clean Bandit.

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  Thomas Cranmer, the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury.

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  Robert Malthus, a famous population theorist.

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  Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a famous English poet.

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  Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II.

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  Turi King, a professor of genetics.

See also

In Spanish: Jesus College (Cambridge) para niños

• Colleges at the University of Cambridge
• List of Masters of Jesus College, Cambridge
• Jesus College, Oxford sister college at Oxford