Formal Hall at St.Johns

To be invited to a 'formal hall' at one of the colleges is quite a treat here in Cambridge. Last night we went to St. Johns College, thanks to some thoughtful Tyndale House friends, and enjoyed a lovely meal in a memorable setting.

The fun thing is, we were able to include my folks! Jim went with them to an Evensong before the dinner, where they experienced a service which was partly in Latin. Ask them about it.


Dressing formally is one part of these dinners, and so we all dressed up. If you're a member of the university, you wear your gown over your suit or dress. There's a definite advantage to this--the hall was a bit cold and drafty.

Before the meal starts, a bell rings, we all stand, and the fellows and Master come parading in to sit at a head table. After a Latin prayer (the same one used for centuries, we were told), the first course came. The graduate students at St. Johns sit on one side of their great hall, and the undergraduates on the other.


After the main course was finished, the bell rang again, we all stood, someone prayed in Latin (presumably to thank God for what we had just eaten) and the head table made their exit for a smaller, more intimate room for their dessert and after dinner drinks. We remained for our dessert and coffee (I had tea) and at this point we were allowed to take pictures.

We came with a group of Tyndale House readers, many of whom you see here.


We also had dinner with William Wordsworth...


and William Wilberforce...


...both of whom were St. Johns students, or Johnians (pronounced "Joanians").

Inter college rivalries are alive and well here like everywhere else, so members of some other colleges sing (to the tune of "She'll be coming `round the mountain...")

I'd rather be at Oxford than at Johns
Ohh - I'd rather be at Oxford than at Johns
I'd rather be at Oxford
Rather be at Oxford
I'd rather be at Oxford than at Johns

And the Johnian reply (to the tune of "You'll never walk alone"),

Sign on,
Sign on,
With hope in your heart
'Cause you'll never be at John's

Lady Margaret Beaufort founded St. Johns College in 1511. She was the mother of Henry VII, and grandmother of Henry the VIII. Her picture is seen in the backdrop of the picture below. She was a strong Christian, and she is seen doing her devotions in this painting.

Have you heard of the Lady Margaret's Professorship of Divinity? It was the first endowed chair at the University of Cambridge and is quite a prestigious professorship.


What a fun evening to share with my parents!

On another note, Mom is getting sick, in fact she has almost completely lost her voice. It's never fun not to feel well far from home, so pray for her!