King's College Chapel

Our congratulations to King's alumnus Richard Farnes (KC 1983), who has been awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to music in the New Year Honours list for 2026.

Richard’s distinguished career spans both symphonic music and opera. He was a Chorister in the King's College Choir before entering Eton College as a music scholar in 1977. He returned to King's as Organ Scholar in 1983, and later studied at the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the National Opera Studio. He has conducted a wide range of orchestras in the UK and across the world. With the BBC Symphony Orchestra he has appeared at the BBC Proms in London and at the Dubai Proms. From 2004 to 2016 he was Music Director of Opera North in Leeds.

The exhibition ‘Andean Contours – University Buildings’ by José Cruz Ovalle will run until 28 September, exploring Chilean architecture and reflecting on the connections between architectural design and higher education.

José Cruz Ovalle is a renowned Chilean architect who has worked internationally, with projects in Spain, Argentina, Colombia, and, of course, his home country of Chile. This exhibition highlights two university campuses he designed and built in Santiago and Valparaíso.

For this installation, the easels that previously supported the ’50 Portraits’ exhibition have been transformed into a new structure. This time, they carry a bespoke design made of pliable wood, forming a meandering surface. The images are carved—not printed—onto specially coated wooden panels, and every element has been carefully designed and 3D-printed to honour the unique architecture of the Chapel.

Exhibition Opening

Monday 1 September 2025

King’s College Audit Room (from 5pm)

King’s College Chapel (from 6pm)

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On Tuesday 2 September José Cruz Ovalle, Peter Clegg (designer of Stephen Taylor Court), and Michelle McNamara (Pritzker Prize Laureate) will present their work, focusing on university buildings.

These events are organised by Dr Felipe Hernández and supported by King’s College Cambridge and the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez.

The Reverend Canon Dr Hueston Finlay will succeed the Reverend Dr Stephen Cherry in 2026

King’s College is delighted to announce that Hueston Finlay, Vice-Dean of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and Warden of St George’s House, has been appointed as the next Dean of Chapel. He will take up the post following Stephen Cherry’s retirement in January 2026.

Dr Finlay has been a canon at St George’s Chapel since 2004 and been the Warden of St George’s House since 2008, which convenes discussions on major social and ethical issues. He had previously been Dean of Chapel at Magdalene College, Cambridge and Chaplain of Girton College. He holds degrees from Trinity College Dublin in engineering and theology, a doctorate in philosophy from King’s College London and has studied pure mathematics at the Open University. He is currently an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen.

“King’s College Cambridge is one of the world’s leading academic establishments. Since 1441, education, religion, learning and research have been at the heart of its ethos. I look forward very much to joining the College, to working once again with students, and to immersing myself in the endeavours of this very special place. It will be a great privilege and a personal pleasure to be part of such a renowned institution.” -  Hueston Finlay.

Provost Gillian Tett commented “We very much look forward to welcoming Hueston Finlay to King’s as Dean of Chapel in the new year. I’d also like to thank Stephen Cherry for his many years of service to King’s, first as Chaplain between 1989 and 1994 and as Dean since 2014.”