Join us at St John's on 13 November 2026 as we commemorate the St Brice’s Day Massacre of 1002.

On 13 November 1002, King Æthelred II of England ordered the massacre of Danes living in England, fearing that they meant to kill him and his advisers and take over the kingdom. In Oxford, Danes sought sanctuary in St Frideswide's Church, which was set upon and burnt down by their pursuers.

The remains of at least thirty-five men and boys likely killed during the massacre were discovered in central Oxford in 2008, when St John's College was preparing to build its Kendrew Quadrangle. Since then, the College has marked St Brice's Day with various public-facing talks and events that have reflected on the Oxford massacre and eleventh-century England and Europe.

We look forward to welcoming visitors for our St Brice's Day commemorations on Friday 13 November 2026, where leading researchers will share their insight into Oxford's Viking past and what we can learn today from this violent local history.

The full programme is available below. Refreshments and a sandwich lunch are also available. Please make sure to reserve a ticket for lunch if you would like to join us.

Description supplied by the event organiser.