[3] The college's main site is on the Bailey, occupying historic Georgian buildings at the east end of Durham Cathedral.

The college is named after Saint Chad, a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon bishop known for spreading Christianity in the Mercian kingdom.

[5] Gowns are worn by students for formal dining, matriculation and some other college activities, and its members still say grace in Latin.

In 1902, Frederick Samuel Willoughby, vicar of Hooton Pagnell near Doncaster, opened St Chad's Hostel to prepare men of limited financial means for entry to Church of England theological colleges.

[8] The further financial support of Douglas Horsfall, a wealthy Liverpool businessman and devoted churchman (who also funded the building of several large Anglo-Catholic churches in his home city), made it possible in 1904 to establish a hall at Durham University as a sister institution to the Hooton Pagnell hostel, to allow students to read for university degrees alongside training for ordination.

A licence from the university was obtained and St Chad's Hall opened in October 1904 at 1 South Bailey, Durham, with nineteen students.

[9] The Durham hall and Hooton Pagnell hostel continued to operate in partnership, with students studying for a year at the hostel before moving to the hall to complete their studies, until 1916 when the Hooton Pagnell building was requisitioned as a war hospital and all teaching was moved to Durham.

[11] In 1937, C. E. Whiting's centenary history of the university recorded that the college had 55 students and five staff, but could easily double its numbers if accommodation were available.

These new buildings were joined to existing 18th century houses at 16–18 North Bailey to form the present Main College.

[12] The college ceased formal ordination training in 1971, but remains a Church of England foundation with students studying for degrees across all departments of the university.

A graffito on the Bow Lane side of the dining hall reads "Pulchra Semper" (Latin: always beautiful), and has been in place since at least the 1970s.

[19] Lightfoot House, 19 North Bailey (directly across the road from Durham Cathedral) is one of the buildings that comprise the college.

[20] Langford House, 21 North Bailey, is a Grade II listed building built in the 18th century and named after a former Judaism scholar and College Chaplain.

Ramsey House, 25 North Bailey, is a Grade II listed building built around 1820, now owned by the college and now used primarily for undergraduate accommodation.

Trinity Hall is a former Durham School boarding house, located on Grove Street, across the river from the main college site.

[21] 30 Hallgarth Street, located across the river from the main college site, is a Grade II listed building constructed around 1840.

In 2023, the chapel underwent a thorough refurbishment including a new roof, the restoration and replacement of all damaged segments of its wooden cladding, new lighting and heating systems.

This project was paid for in its entirety by the generosity of alumni, supporters and a number of Trusts and Foundations; the names of all who contributed may be seen on a Donors' Board inside the Chapel.

A senior student would then recite: The tradition of "pennying", as part of a meal or drinking game, whereby dropping a penny in a person's drink means that they must finish it (or some such variation thereof) is banned at St Chad's College, with risk of possible expulsion from the dining hall by staff members and even fines.

On his feast day (2 March), the college features a day-long celebration and begins early in the morning with a noisy wake-up call.

The visitor exercises customary visitorial functions and is the court of final appeal for any matters referred to the archbishop by the governors.

The college is formed by up to twenty governors who are its legal members, and who act as the trustees of the charity and directors of the limited company.

The Chair of Governors is Father Mark Woodruff, an alumnus whose work mainly involves engagement with the civil voluntary sector, especially in the fields of social development and inclusion.

The college has a modest endowment, which is enough to fund significant annual capital improvements, and a number of named scholarships.

Like other colleges, applicants are considered chiefly on the basis of academic merit, and 90% of undergraduates at St Chad's attain a first or upper second class degree.

Though most Durham colleges are primarily residential rather than teaching institutions, St Chad's has its own research and academic staff.

Responsibility for purely academic matters is overseen by the Principal in consultation with the Fellows, one of whom, Professor Tony Chapman, is head of research and Director of Policy&Practice, working in the fields of government policy and conducting primary research into regional development, regional economics and third sector activities.

Students and staff are introduced to complex social issues; they are invited to participate in a weekly programme of training-events that go beyond traditional transferable skills to include such things as ethical decision-making and eco-friendly life-strategies.

Senior college officers include the Principal, the Vice-Principal, the Finance & Operations Director, the Chaplain, and the Librarian.

In 2022, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor was voted as an honorary membership of the JCR in recognition of her contribution to music, which often features at St Chad's events.