Recent archaeological research conducted by Cambridge University sheds new light on the medieval welfare system administered by the Hospital of St. John the Evangelist. Established in 1195 and succeeded by St. John’s College in 1511, the hospital aimed to support the “poor and infirm” through an innovative approach to charity. In 2010, excavation of the hospital’s primary cemetery unearthed more than 400 burials. Professor John Robb from the University of Leicester underscored the significance of comprehending medieval towns like Cambridge as “a sea of need.”

The study involved detailed examination of over 400 adults and children interred between 1200 and 1500 CE, offering insights into their lives, health, and social status. Researchers employed techniques such as DNA and isotope analysis, human skeletal variation studies, and other disciplines, yielding one of the most comprehensive datasets for medieval England.

The hospital’s criteria for providing long-term care combined material necessities, local political dynamics, and spiritual considerations. Certain groups, including lepers, pregnant women, and the mentally ill, were excluded, while religious devotion became increasingly pivotal. Residents, comprising scholars, orphans, and the impoverished, were required to pray for the souls of benefactors. Professor Robb highlighted, “A hospital served as a spiritual engine.”