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Night Club Plans Four Years of Concerts at St. Paul’s Cathedral
The prominent Anglican cathedral's four-year partnership with nightclub Fabric to host concerts has drawn criticism over the use of the historic church for contemporary music events.
LONDON — St. Paul’s Cathedral has entered into a four-year agreement with London nightclub Fabric to host contemporary music events inside the historic cathedral through 2030. Fabric will serve as the Anglican cathedral’s exclusive partner for such events, with the first concert scheduled for Oct. 29, although the performer has not yet been announced.
The agreement has drawn criticism from Christians and historic preservationists, particularly because the cathedral contains memorials and burials connected with prominent figures in British history. Descendants of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, whose tomb is located in the cathedral’s crypt, objected to the arrangement. Peregrine Hood, president of the Nelson Society and a descendant of Nelson’s brother, called the decision “an insult to Lord Nelson’s memory” and questioned whether anything remained sacred.
St. Paul’s officials have emphasized that the cncerts will be seated and that audiences will be instructed to remain seated throughout the performances. The events will also take place outside the crypt where Nelson is buried. Cathedral director of visitor engagement Sandra Lynes Timbrell said the program was intended to introduce new audiences to the building through a “carefully curated programme of exceptional concerts.”
Fabric co-founder Cameron Leslie described the partnership as “an extraordinary and unexpected coming together of two very different parts of London.” Organizers said the performers would come from varied musical backgrounds and that their work would respond to the cathedral’s acoustics, atmosphere, and architectural heritage. St. Paul’s previously hosted performances by RY X and Patti Smith.
The controversy has also revived criticism surrounding Fabric’s history. Islington Council revoked the club’s license in 2016 after two 18-year-olds died in separate drug-related incidents at the venue. Fabric reopened in January 2017 under stricter licensing conditions, including a higher minimum entry age and enhanced security. Similar concerns arose at Canterbury Cathedral after it hosted silent discos in 2024, prompting a petition with more than 1,600 signatures.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Sarah Mullally was confirmed as the first female archbishop of Canterbury.
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