St. John’s College is an Anglican college affiliated with the University of Hong Kong, which provides accommodation to undergraduates and postgraduates. As the successor of St. John’s Hall, which was founded in 1912, the College is the oldest residential hall/college of the University. Constitutionally, the College is a body corporate established by statute, the St. John’s College Ordinance (Chapter 1089, Laws of Hong Kong), on 27 April 1956. As such, unlike other residential halls/colleges that are directly administered by the University, the College enjoys financial and administrative independence.Halls of residence The Ricci Hall, run by the Jesuits, is the only other non-University-administered hall.

The aims of the College, as specified in the Preamble of the St. John’s College Ordinance, are "the pursuit of virtue and sound learning with faith in God and within the order of the Anglican Communion; and to this end to provide accommodation for teachers and students of all races where they may live, study and worship together; and to promote extramural activities in Christian learning and service, that the members of the College may the better understand and fulfil their duty to God and their neighbours".Preamble, St. John's College Ordinance (Cap. 1089).

The incumbent President of St. John's College Council is The Most Rev. Andrew Chan Au-ming, Archbishop and Primate of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui. The Master of College is Dr. Wong Kwok Chun, Associate Professor in the Department of Real Estate of HKU.

History

Origin of residential education In January 1908, Governor Lugard alluded to the scheme of establishing HKU at the prize-giving of St. Stephen’s College, a boarding school run by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) for the sons of Chinese gentry.SCMP (1908-01-18), p.2. Shortly afterwards, Sir Mody offered to contribute to the university’s building costs, and work had been swiftly undertaken to consider and prepare for the scheme. Already then a committee convened by the Governor had decided that the objects of HKU must include the development and formation of "the character of students no less than their intellectual faculties".Minutes of a meeting with reference to a proposed Hongkong University, Hong Kong, 13 March 1908, p. 13. In a memorandum dated 20 March 1910, Governor Lugard elaborated on this point:

It has been said that the Hongkong University aims at giving a purely secular education…, and that it will provide for the material and intellectual development only, while neglecting the training of character and morals. Were this the case I at any rate would not have given my cordial support to the project… in order to ensure discipline and moral education it has been decided that no external students shall be accepted unless they live in Hostels conducted under strict regulations framed by the Council. Such Hostels will consist exclusively of establishments founded and conducted by Religious bodies who desire to maintain supervision, during their career at the University, over the pupils whom they have educated in their schools. All others will be required to reside within the precincts under the close supervision of the Staff, and we hope, by engaging men of the right stamp and not mere educationalists, to thus bring the best influences to bear on the Undergraduates.Lugard (1910), Hong Kong University: Objects, History, Present Position and Prospects, p. 3.

Founding of St. John’s Hall

Against this background, the CMS made plans to build an Anglican hostel. Their appeal for funds was supported by Governor Lugard, who looked to the CMS for continuing "its care and discipline of its own students".Martin (1922), St. John’s Hall: History and Register, p. 10.

The question of providing a CMS hostel was officially raised at the Church Conference of the Diocese in September 1910 by Bishop Lander, who considered the scheme "a challenge to our Church that we must not decline".SCMP (1910-09-15), p. 10. At that time, the CMS possessed a site directly opposite to the proposed university, which housed the CMS Girls’ School, known as "Fairlea" (established 1886). It was decided that the CMS hostel would be erected there and the Girls’ School would be moved elsewhere. Fairlea was eventually moved to Prospect Terence, and later to Lyttelton Road, where it shared a campus with St. Stephen's Girls' College until 1936, when Fairlea amalgamated with Victoria School to form Heep Yunn School.SCMP (1936-10-24), p. 12.

The work of adapting the site and securing funds was conducted under the direction of Archdeacon E. J. Barnett, who was the warden (the equivalent of "principal") of St. Stephen’s College from 1903 to 1913. The Diocese of Liverpool "did much to make accomplishment possible".Martin (1922), St. John’s Hall: History and Register, p. 12. The old Fairlea building was adapted for residence, while a new building was erected to its East by Messrs. Denison, Ram and Gibbs. Rev. W. H. Hewitt, Chaplain of St. Stephen’s College, was the warden-elect. He and Archdeacon Barnett together drew up the constitution and regulations of St. John’s Hall and the university hostels.St. Stephen’s College (1952), The Chimes: Jubilee Issue.

When the university formally opened in September 1912, St. John’s Hall was the only hostel ready for occupation. Those to follow were: Lugard Hall (1913), Morrison Hall (1913), Eliot Hall (1914) and May Hall (1915). In the first term, 33 students were admitted to St. John’s Hall, 23 of whom were old boys of St. Stephen’s College. Those admitted to the "University Hall" (a temporary name for the secular hostels – Lugard, Eliot and May) were temporarily accommodated in the University Main Building.Martin (1922), St. John’s Hall: History and Register, p. 13.

Wardens and Masters

Wardens of St. John's Hall (1912-1955) № Portrait NameChinese name(Birth–Death) Tenure Remarks 1. Rev. William Herbert Hewitt, M.A., B.D.侯活牧師(1884-1955) 1912-1914 Arrived in Hong Kong in 1908 as Chaplain of St. Stephen's College. Assisted HKU in drawing up the hall regulations. Went on furlough in 1914, and when he returned in 1915, he was transferred to St. Stephen's College as Warden (the equivalent of Principal), a position he held for 13 years till 1928. Acting Herbert Westren Turnbull, Esq., M.A.(1885-1961) 1914-1915 Lecturer in Mathematics at HKU. Turnbull had been assisting Rev. Hewitt since 1912, and when Hewitt went on furlough, he became Acting Warden, assisted by Mr. F. A. Britton. He was also Master at St. Stephen's College. In spring 1915 Turnbull was ordered home by his doctor due to ill health. A distinguished mathematician, who was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1932. Acting F. A. Britton, Esq., M.A.(?-?) 1914-1915 Teacher at St. Stephen's College. 2. Rev. Charles Brodie Shann, M.A.沈悟牧師(1885-1960) 1915-1931 Acting Rev. Ernest William Lunn Martin, M.A.馬田牧師(1889-1980) 1916-1917, 1920-1921, 1925-1926 Arrived in Hong Kong in 1914 as Chaplain of St. Stephen's College. Thrice took charge of St. John's Hall as Acting Warden, when Rev. Shann went on furlough. Married Kathleen Stewart, sister of Rev. A. D. Stewart and founder of St. Paul's Girls' School. Appointed Acting Warden and Warden of St. Stephen's College in 1926 and 1928 respectively, having held the latter position for 25 years till 1953. Defended St. Stephen's College during the Battle of Hong Kong, and lost his wife during their time at the Stanley Internment Camp. Returned to St. John's College in 1956 as Chaplain, a position he held until his death in 1980. Married a second time in 1970 to Mei Ling Martin. Made an MBE for his educational and welfare services to the community in Hong Kong. Acting Rev. Harry August Wittenbach(?-?) 1926-1927 3. Rev. George Kingsford Carpenter, M.A., Sc.M., A.I.C.賈炳達牧師(1897-1970) 1932-1938 Acting T. J. Price, Esq.(?-?) 1933 4. George Samuel Zimmern, Esq., M.A.施玉麒牧師(1904-1979) 1939-1941 Hall closed during Japanese Occupation (1941-1945) 4. Canon George Samuel Zimmern, M.A., J.P.施玉麒牧師(1904-1979) 1946-1952 5. Rev. Erik Kvan, Cand. Theol.關愛睿牧師(1917-2003) 1952-1955

Subwardens of St. John's Hall (1912-1955) № Portrait NameChinese name(Birth–Death) Tenure Remarks 1. Herbert Westren Turnbull, Esq., M.A.(1885-1961) 1912-1914 See above. 2. Rev. J. Romanis Lee, M.A.(?-?) 1922-1925 Lecturer in History at HKU. 3. Rev. Nelson Victor Halward, M.C., M.A.侯利華牧師(1897-1953) 1925-1926, 1927-1933 Arrived in Hong Kong in 1925 as Diocesan Chaplain of the Anglican Church. He was also the scoutmaster of St. Paul's College. Colony Commissioner of the Boy Scout Association, Hong Kong Branch from 1934 to 1950. During his tenure, the scout movement rooted among the Hong Kong Chinese population. Appointed Assistant Bishop of Victoria in 1946 till 1951. 4. Dr. K. D. Ling(?-?) 1933 5. G. H. Owen, Esq.(?-?) 1934-1938 6. Davide T. C. Cheng, Esq.(?-?) 1939-1941 6. Rev. S. K. Cheung(?-?) 1939-1941 7. Rev. S. K. Loong龍韶基牧師(?-?) 1946-1952

Wardens of St. Stephen's Hall (1922-1955) № Portrait NameChinese name(Birth–Death) Tenure Remarks 1. Ms. Edna Sabrina Atkins歐鏡新女士(?-?) 1922-1926 Taught at St. Stephen's Girls' College since 1919. Headmistress of the Girls' College from 1929 to 1949. Noted for welcoming the less privileged, organising free school for street children and introducing "cheongsam" school uniform.K.E. Barker (1996), Change and continuity : a history of St. Stephen's Girls' College, pp. 57-58; K. E. Barker (2006), Celebrate a Century’s Grace: Go Forward in Faith. Acting Ms. Janet Lucy Vincent(?-?) 1926-1927 Taught at St. Stephen's Girls' College from 1924 to 1931.SCMP. 2. Ms. Winifred Ida Griffin龍女士(?-?) 1928-1936 Taught at St. Stephen's Girls' College since 1910. Headmistress of the Girls' College from 1915 to 1921. Assigned to St. Hilda's Girls' School, Guangzhou from 1921 to 1927.K. E. Barker (1996), Change and Continuity: A History of St. Stephen’s Girls’ College. 3. Ms. Mary Noel Baxter伯斯特女士(?-?) 1936-1941 Taught at St. Stephen's Girls' College since 1921. Became Acting Warden in 1936 when Ms. Griffin went on leave, and later became the third Warden.SCMP (1936-10-09), p. 10. During the Japanese occupation, Ms. Baxter was interned at Stanley together with the Headmistress Ms. Atkins; both taught at the Camp School. Shortly after the liberation, she was already working with Ms. Atkins to reopen St. Stephen's Girls' College, only leaving for England for recuperation in October, but thereafter prevented from returning by illness.K.E. Barker (1996), Change and continuity : a history of St. Stephen's Girls' College, p. 104. Hall closed during Japanese Occupation (1941-1945) 4. Ms. Ada Chung鐘梁毅德女士(?-?) 1945-1955 Graduate of St. Stephen's Girls' College (1926) and HKU (BA in Science 1932). Briefly taught at the Girls' College. Became Demonstrator in Chemistry at HKU in 1936. She reopened St. Stephen's Hall after the war and became its first Chinese Warden. Awarded M.Sc. and became Assistant Lecturer at HKU in 1955.K.E. Barker (1996), Change and continuity : a history of St. Stephen's Girls' College, pp. 132, 405.

Masters of St. John's College (1955-present)