Musk and Vance Outraged by Graffiti in Canterbury Cathedral

Graffiti-style sticker art in the Canterbury Cathedral. Photo: Canterbury Cathedral

CANTERBURY — As reported by UOJ, a scandal around a new art installation at Canterbury Cathedral has prompted commentary from religious and political figures alike. Temporary graffiti with questions to God were applied to the ancient walls and columns of the temple, sparking a strong reaction.

The installation titled “Hear Us” was created by artists from the LGBTQ community. Inscriptions such as “Are you here?” and “Why did you create hate when love is by far more powerful?” appeared on the walls. The cathedral's administration called the project a “bridge between cultures," but many believers considered it blasphemous.

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance called the event “really ugly." "It is weird to me that these people don't see the irony of honoring 'marginalized communities' by making a beautiful historical building really ugly," he wrote on X. Tesla owner Elon Musk called it "shameful."

A number of priests and British journalists accused the Canterbury Cathedral administration of desecrating the shrine. Marcus Walker, rector of St. Bartholomew's Church in London, emphasized: “The leadership of Canterbury Cathedral may no longer have a sense of the sacred, but millions do and they have a duty to keep this a place of prayer and worship for the rest of us, not turn it into a private plaything of the elites." GB News presenter Emma Trimble said the cathedral leadership had made the sacred "profane."

Meanwhile, the cathedral continues to defend the exhibition's concept, asserting that the project's goal is to “ask uncomfortable questions about faith and modern society”. The exhibition will be open until January 2026.

Founded in the 6th century by St. Augustine of Canterbury, the Canterbury Cathedral is not only the main church of the Anglican Church but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many have regarded the graffiti on its walls as sacrilege and an affront to historical heritage.

Sarah Mullally, recently elected as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, publicly supported the exhibition. She stated that the Church must “speak to modern society in its language” and not fear “open forms of dialogue." However, this position particularly outraged believers, who accused the new leadership of “sanctifying secular culture” and “losing the sense of sanctity."

According to critics, the current scandal is indicative of a deep crisis within the Anglican Church, which is trying to retain the attention of a secular audience at the cost of its own traditions. 

Previously, UOJ reported that Bishop of London Sarah Mullally was appointed as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.

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