The Department of English was established in 1923. Fr.A.Lebeau S.J., Principal of the college, was the Head of the Department. Fr.Jerome de Souza S.J. joined the Department as Lecturer and also served as Library Director. Great educationists like Fr.A.Bonhoure S.J., Fr.T.N.Siqueria S.J., Fr.I.Arulsamy S.J., Fr.Edmund Faber S.J., Fr.S.M.Antonysamy S.J., Fr. George Thottungal S.J., Fr.Louis Xavier S.J. and Fr.G.Packiaraj S.J. served as Heads of the Department. Great teachers like Fr.F.Gilmore S.J., Fr.C.M.Cherian S.J., Fr. Lawrence Sundaram S.J., Fr.A.Savarimuthu S.J., Fr.Leo Correya S.J., Fr.Leo Antony Tagore S.J., Fr.Francis M. Peter S.J., Fr. V. Gilburt Camillus S.J. inspired the students by their teaching and were held in high esteem by the student community. Mr.P.L.Stephen was the first layman lecturer who served for 28 years. Others who lent their service were Mr.Sajeevi, Mr.A.Srinivasaragavan, Mr.Blais Diaz, Mr.M.Gnanamani, Mr.Caesar Antony, Mr.Rengachary, Mr.G.S.Natarajan, and Mr.R.P.Pillai.
Mr.Selvanayagam was the first layman promoted as Head of the Department. Efficient teachers like Mr.S.Ramakrishnan, Mr.Paripuranam, Mr.I.Devadasan, Mr.Alex Fernando, Mr.D.Albert, Mr.C.Ganesa Pillai, Mr.A.M.George, Mr.M.John, Mr.Maria Joseph, Dr.A.Achariyam, Dr.S.John Peter Joseph and Mr.Balu Rayan contributed to the growth of the Department with dedication and sincerity.
B.A.English Literature was started in 1968. When Mr.Selvanayagam retired, Mr.P.R.Srinivasan was promoted Head of the Department. After the retirement of Mr.P.R.Srinivasan, Mr.A.Cleophas became Head of the Department. Two years later, Mr.S.A.Thiaga Rajan was appointed Head of the Department. A reunion of the former staff and students of the Department was organized in February 1998. Mr.P.Jeganathan was promoted Head of the Department in 2004.
Dr.V.S.Joseph Albert was promoted Head of the Department in June 2006. M.A.English was started. Organizing national seminars became an important academic activity of the Department. Research activity was promoted with the publication of 7 edited anthologies, 74 research papers and 12 CDs from 2006 to 2011. The Department won the overall first prize in the inter-departmental competitions (INDECO) in 2009 and 2012 and the overall second prize in September 2011. The Department was recognized as a Research Centre by the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in March 2011.
Dr.A.Calisthus became Head of the Department in June 2011. Language Lab was strengthened with audio-visual aids. After his retirement, Dr.V.S.Joseph Albert was appointed Head of the Department for the second time in June 2013. After his retirement, Dr. V. John was promoted Head of the Department in June 2014. The Department won the overall first prize in the inter-departmental competitions (INDECO) and in Sports & Games. An International Conference on "Contours of Postcolonial Studies" was organized in January 2016.
Dr. Lizie Williams was promoted Head of the Department in June 2016. M. Phil. English was started in June 2017. In the Sports Meet conducted by the College on 26th August 2016, the Overall Championship and the Trophy for the Best March-Past were won by Shift II and Shift I students respectively. The individual championship prizes for Men and Women were won by our students. In the Inter Departmental Competitions (INDECO) conducted by the college in September 2016, Shift II won the Overall Second Prize and Shift I won the Overall Third. In the Sports Meet conducted by the College on 1st September 2017, the Overall Second Prize was won by Shift II students. In the Inter Departmental Competitions (INDECO) conducted by the college in September 2017, Shift I won the Overall Second Prize and Shift II won the Overall Third Prize. Emil Robin Singh, a student of English Literature, brought laurels to SXC by setting a meet record in the 71st State Aquatic Championship in 2017 and won the Individual Championship, bagging five gold medals.