A Controversial Art Installation at Canterbury Cathedral
Worshippers and critics alike have been left in shock after Britain’s oldest cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, was transformed with graffiti-style art. The Church of England has allowed artists to cover the ancient stone walls of the cathedral with urban artwork, sparking a heated debate about the sanctity of sacred spaces.
The controversy has drawn attention from figures such as US Vice-President JD Vance, right-wing activists, and numerous worshippers who have accused the Church of defiling a historic site. Despite the backlash, the cathedral’s Dean, David Monteith, acknowledged that the installation would “divide opinion” but emphasized that it “builds bridges between cultures, styles and genres.”
The Church commissioned poet Alex Vellis and curator Jacquiline Creswell to create an exhibition titled “Hear Us,” which will be on display until January 18. This free event aims to bring together diverse communities and offer a platform for reflection and dialogue.
Photos shared by the cathedral show vibrant graffiti-style messages on pillars and walls. These include questions posed to God, such as “Are you there?” and “God, what happens when we die?” The project involved working with marginalized communities, including Punjabi, black and brown diaspora, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ groups.
Some visitors have expressed strong disapproval, with one describing the sacred site as looking “like an underground car park in Peckham” and another calling it “sacrilegious.” US Vice-President JD Vance, a practising Catholic, took to X to express his disappointment, stating that the exhibit had made a “beautiful historical building really ugly.”
Right-wing activists in the UK and abroad have also joined the conversation, criticizing the exhibition. Drew Pavlou, a conservative activist from Australia, wrote on X: “They are literally scrawling graffiti on the walls of ancient cathedrals. Everything beautiful is just torn down and destroyed.”
However, not everyone shares this view. Some supporters argue that the online reaction is “rage baiting” and highlight that the exhibition is temporary. One X user noted, “It is interesting how my own reaction changed, once I understood that the ‘graffiti’ was not permanent.” Another added, “It is temporary. The building was not damaged in the making of this exhibition.”
David Monteith, Dean of Canterbury, acknowledged the disruptive nature of the graffiti-style art, saying, “There is a rawness which is magnified by the graffiti style which is disruptive.” He also recognized the authenticity of the messages, stating, “There is also an authenticity in what is said because it is unfiltered and not tidied up or sanitised. Above all, this graffiti makes me wonder why I am not always able to be as candid, not least in my prayers.”
Founded in 597 AD by St Augustine in Kent, Canterbury Cathedral is one of the world’s oldest Christian structures and is part of a World Heritage site. The cathedral was rebuilt between 1070 and 1077, and again following a 1174 fire, including an expanded east end to serve pilgrims visiting the shrine of Thomas Becket—the archbishop who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170.
Earlier this month, Dame Sarah Mullally was named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury designate—the first woman to be chosen for the role. The Church had been without someone in the top job for almost a year after Justin Welby resigned over a safeguarding scandal.
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