The history of St. John's University in York can be traced back to the Bishop's College of York, a pastor training school established by 184 1, and later renamed St. John's College. 1846 York Girls' Church School was established, 1862 moved to Ripon. A century later, two missionary schools merged with 1974 and were renamed St. John's and Ripon College. 1990 The school merged with the University of Leeds and became an affiliated college of the University of Leeds. The school retained the name of St. John and awarded students a degree from Leeds University. From 1999 to 200 1, the school gradually moved back to York and changed its name to York St. John's College. In February, 2006, the school was granted the right to confer degrees completely independently. Shortly after briefly using the name of St. John's University College, with the approval of the Privy Council, the school officially adopted the name of St. John's University in York in July 2006.