Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge

29/09/2026

On 26 September, we welcomed 84 alumni back to College for the MacCurdy Reunion Dinner (2004 to 2008). On arrival guests enjoyed refreshments in the Pelican Bar while perusing an archival display of their time at College. Ahead of dinner in Hall, they were treated to a Chronophage Clock tour with its custodian Professor Ewan St. John, followed by pre-dinner drinks in Old Court.

More photos from the event can be viewed here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/corpuschristicambridge/albums/72177720335859340/

24/09/2026

On the eve of his induction as a Companion of the Guild of Cambridge Benefactors, we were delighted to host a special dinner to honour Corpus Guild Fellow Neil Westreich (m.1970) and his longstanding commitment to the College. Ahead of dinner, guests enjoyed a visit to the Parker Library, followed by a musical performance in Chapel from world-renowned duo, pianists Samson Tsoy and Pasha Kolesnikov.

Neil has actively supported Corpus since 1980. That support has benefited the Alumni Fund, the Nicholas Bacon Law Fund, student bursaries and the Parker Library. In recognition of his outstanding commitment to Corpus, Neil was elected as the first Guild Fellow.

Neil read History at Cambridge before qualifying as a lawyer. He joined the leading New York international law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore in 1979, becoming a partner in the Corporate Department in 1985 until his retirement in 2006.

24/09/2026

Corpus Development Director, Rachel Lawson, and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Philosophy, Dr Sarah Fine will be in Paris between 21-22 October 2026 and they are looking forward to catching up with Old Members in the area at the time.

All Corpuscles are welcome to join Rachel and Sarah on the evening of Wednesday 21 October at 18.00 for an informal cafe gathering at L'Entracte, 1 Rue Auber, 75009 Paris, France.

Register for the event here: https://www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/events/corpus-paris-gathering

21/09/2026

Earlier this month we welcomed 58 A Level students from Northern Ireland for the CLASS (Corpus Link Area Super-Curricular Scheme) residential.

Ahead of the residential the students attended regular small online group sessions over a six-month period, led by a Corpus subject expert. They were set pre-reading or a problem-solving task ahead of each session which they then discussed with their group.

The residential brought everyone together in person to celebrate the completion of the programme, which was split into three streams: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Social Sciences.

During the residential students attended academic sessions, along with interview and subject-specific assessment workshops, led by Corpus Fellows Professor Ewan St. John Smith (Life Sciences), Dr Nicki Humphry-Baker (Physical Sciences) and Dr Stefan Tarnowski (Social Sciences).

The visiting students also enjoyed some downtime with our student ambassadors, who showcased the benefits of studying and living in Cambridge. The residential drew to a close with a formal dinner in Hall.

This programme was co-delivered by the University of Cambridge's widening participation team.

View more photos from the residential here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/corpuschristicambridge/albums/72177720335677216

17/09/2026

In early September, we hosted our first ever Experience Postgrad Digital Humanities programme in collaboration with Cambridge Digital Humanities and funded by The Isaac Newton Trust Widening Participation and Induction Fund. This year's theme was Digital Archives and Decolonisation, and featured online sessions in July and August that led up to our four-day residential.

Thank you to all of the teachers, researchers, students and staff members who helped make this programme possible!

Read more here: https://www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/articles/students-enjoy-taste-digital-humanities-cambridge

17/09/2026

We look forward to welcoming more visitors this afternoon (2-4pm) after a busy morning sharing the treasures of the Parker Library with our Open Cambridge guests.

📖 Don’t miss this Open Cambridge highlight today!

The doors to the historic Parker Library at Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge are open today, giving you the chance to discover one of Cambridge’s most remarkable collections.

Step inside, explore its fascinating history and see some of the treasures that have been preserved here for centuries.

📅 Today, Thursday 17 September
⌚ 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm (last entry 15:30)
🎟️ No booking required: https://bit.ly/4oHWtpR

15/09/2026

Last week, we had the pleasure of bringing together Corpus alumni in Berlin and Munich, from matriculation year 1955 right through to 2025.

During the trip, one theme emerged time and again in alumni memories and out of our Development Director and Fellow Rachel Lawson’s College updates: that Corpus was and remains more than a place to study. It is a home away from home, where passions are discovered, mentors found, and lifelong connections began. Beyond providing a rigorous academic foundation, it has helped generations of alumni build remarkable careers, form lifelong friendships, and develop professional networks that continue to create opportunities decades after graduation.

15/09/2026

Some sound advice from this year's University of Cambridge honorary degree graduates for our incoming freshers and returning students. Amongst them was Corpus alumnus, barrister, author and academic Professor Philippe Sands (m.1979) who was honoured with a Doctorate in Law. Professor Sands encourages everyone to follow their instincts!

14/09/2026

The Parker Library's Augustine Gospels will make a brief cameo on the BBC tonight in the Secrets of The Bayeux Tapestry: Inside The Museum, which airs on BBC2 at 9pm.

The programme documents the journey of the tapestry to the British Museum where it is currently on display. It also looks at the scenes depicted on the 70 metre embroidered cloth.

In the scene depicting a feast, Bishop Odo of Bayeux and his nobles are arrayed around a circular table, very similar to the Last Supper panel in the Augustine Gospels. Odo is also shown in a pose similar to the figure of Christ, blessing his w**e just as Christ was shown blessing his food.

The Gospels appear around 21mins10 seconds and if you can't wait until tonight it is also available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

As the Bayeux Tapestry, one of the treasures of the medieval world, travels to the UK for the first time in 950 years, a stellar cast of historians and experts unravel its secrets.