(Photo: Canterbury Cathedral)
A new art installation at Canterbury Cathedral has sparked debate by drawing inspiration from graffiti. This exhibit, which poses questions to God about life’s complexities and Christianity, has been met with mixed reactions, including criticism from prominent figures.
The installation features questions like “Is illness sin?” and “Why did you create hate when love is by far more powerful?” written on the cathedral’s venerable walls. These have been compared to the less appealing graffiti often seen in urban areas across Britain.
The Very Rev David Monteith, Dean of Canterbury, has stood by the project, stating, “There is a rawness which is magnified by the graffiti style, which is disruptive. It is unfiltered and not sanitised.” He further described the installation as a bridge between cultures and generations, highlighting the voices of the youth.
However, not everyone agrees. US Vice President JD Vance criticized the piece as “really ugly,” expressing on X the irony of attempting to honor marginalized communities by altering a historic building’s aesthetic. Elon Musk also voiced disapproval, calling the installation “shameful.”
The Rev Marcus Walker, rector of St Bartholomew the Great in London and head of the Save the Parish campaign, shared his perspective with The Telegraph, stating, “The leadership of Canterbury Cathedral may no longer have a sense of the sacred, but millions do.” He emphasized the responsibility to preserve the cathedral as a sacred space.
Emma Trimble of GB News argued that the cathedral has made the sacred “profane,” suggesting that young people seek a more serious approach to religion. She commented on the backlash, stating it reflects a perception that church leaders lack firm faith and respect for sacred traditions.
Adding to the critique, former MEP Annunziata Rees-Mogg labeled the installation as “illegible, unaesthetic, disrespectful nonsense,” attributing it to a misguided attempt at progressiveness that risks rendering the church irrelevant.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
