The Department of English of St John’s is as old as the college itself-140 years and it has the unique honour of having had native speakers of English as faculty members. Names of former Professors like the Revd. Schaffter, Bennett and Philip Lea, all from England, have added charm and attraction to this Department.

From a humble beginning, the Department keeps growing, catering to the academic and intellectual needs of many. At first, English was offered as a compulsory Language Paper for Intermediate and Degree courses. In the year 1968, taking into account the growing demand of the students to study English Literature as a major subject, a special graduation course in English was introduced. The desire to graduate with English as the major subject kept growing and hence the approved strength in the undergraduate course was raised to 40 in each class. The Department of English was able to produce a number of University rank holders each year in the Madurai University and for a long time the renowned writer and thinker, Prof. D. A. Thangasamy was heading the Department.

Having been much rated by its productive performance resulting in moulding the future leaders of the society like IAS Officers, Central Ministers, Executives in the Police Department, Administrators in Central Excise, Professors and Principals in various Universities and Colleges all over India. The Department went for up-gradation with the university’s approval and government grant, the Post Graduation course (M.A) in English was introduced from 1971 onwards. Both men and women students were admitted to the PG course in English. Dr. Francis Soundararajan became the first head of the Post Graduate Department of English of St. John’s heading a team of 22 Professors and Assistant Professors.

As expected, the Department of English continued to produce Gold Medalists year after year and today it can boast of its proud alumnae shining in various walks of life as world famous musicians and singers, straightforward IAS/IPS officers, popular politicians and many great academicians.

Right now there are around 190 students in the B.A. course and 60 in M.A. There are 16 members in the faculty of English and all of them are experts in their own fields. We have 6 Ph.D. degree holders and many more are on the verge of completing their Ph.Ds. Many faculty members have been guiding Research Scholars of M.Phil. and Ph.D.

The Department of English is more than convinced that it must offer M.Phil. Course in not only research but also in career-orientation and the faculty members are qualified in every way to guide M.Phil. Scholars. So far the Department of English has produced 2 Gold Medalists and many rank holders. A III Year student has bagged Ninth Rank in Part II English at the University level.

The General Library and also the Department Library are well-equipped and books and journals are being added every year. Infrastructure like class room, furniture and other facilities are available.

The Department of English has been upgraded as a Research Centre in September 2012. It has two of its members, Dr. Edward David Sundara Raj and Dr. JeyaSundara Raj, who are fully qualified and approved by Manonmaniam Sundaranar University with the guide status to run the Research Department.

At present, the Dept. is conducting a Career Oriented Programme, (C O C ) in Communicative English, sponsored by the U G C under Year Plan XI. This Programme is being conducted from the academic year 2012 – ’13 till date. In March 2015, the faculty members contacted Raj sabhahon’ble MP Muthukaruppan and requested him to contribute a sum of Rs. 5,00,000 towards the enhancement of Research Centre Library. In May 2015 the amount was sanctioned.

An Alumni Meet was conducted on 15.04.2016, the 1988-91 batch students of English Literature gathered together and shared their experiences.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION