Canterbury Cathedral’s Graffiti Art Sparks Controversy and Criticism

Canterbury Cathedral’s latest art installation, inspired by graffiti, has sparked significant debate and controversy. This temporary exhibition, which poses questions to God in a graffiti style, has drawn criticism from various quarters, with some seeing it as symptomatic of a deeper crisis within the Church of England.

The exhibition, featuring questions such as “Is God really there?” and “Why did He create hate?”, aims to bridge cultural and stylistic divides. The Dean of Canterbury, the Very Rev David Monteith, defended the installation, stating, “This exhibition intentionally builds bridges between cultures, styles and genres and allows us to receive the gifts of younger people who have much to say.”

However, the project has not been universally well-received. Prominent figures, including US Vice President JD Vance and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, have voiced their disapproval of the installation.

Christian writer David Roseberry, in an article for The Anglican, stated that the Church of England is neglecting its duty to provide spiritual leadership. He criticized the church for presenting questions without offering answers, suggesting that the Church should be confident in its beliefs and ready to address such inquiries.

Roseberry commented, “What we’re seeing in Canterbury—[is] questions everywhere, but no intention of finding answers—a cathedral full of inquiry, but little hunger for the proclamation of the truth. The artist asks, ‘Are you there?’ and the Dean calls it profound. But it’s only profound if someone dares to answer. Otherwise, it’s just another monument to unbelief.”

He further linked the graffiti project with other recent decisions by the Church, such as appointing a woman as Archbishop of Canterbury, as part of a worrying trend. “Put these headlines together, and you see an embarrassing and tragic problem. The Church isn’t being murdered by outsiders. She’s doing herself in. This is not vandalism or persecution. It’s suicide,” he argued.

Simon Evans, writing for Spiked! Magazine, also criticized the installation, describing it as “tiresome” and a “desecration.” He expressed concern that those responsible had neglected their duty to preserve a 1,400-year-old historical legacy.

Evans remarked, “In a time when we fear that many of our most cherished traditions are being traduced, and our most fundamental national institutions hollowed out and deracinated, it is surely with some relief that we realise that one such tradition is still alive and well – that of the trendy vicar.”