When does a church stop being a church? That's the question many religious people are asking, with some anger over how cathedrals are being used beyond worship. Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral, known as "Paddy's Wigwam," opens its crypt for beer festivals, while the Anglican Cathedral hosts concerts and is set to feature Cream Classics, blending dance music with orchestral elements. For some people of faith, this crosses the line and is entirely unacceptable.
Balancing Revenue and Sanctity
Cathedrals and churches are expensive to maintain. Events bring in significant revenue alongside new visitors who might discover their faith along the way. The question is whether spiritual sanctity becomes diluted when a space turns into a concert venue, or if it's simply finding a new congregation while staying financially viable.
Perhaps the bigger question is this: if faith is to survive, do its buildings need to open their doors wider, or strictly guard their boundaries? The answer remains unclear.
St Paul's Partners With Nightclub Fabric
The latest sacred building to embrace contemporary events is St. Paul's Cathedral in London. It recently announced a four-year partnership with the nightclub Fabric for contemporary music performances, starting with an event featuring The Cinematic Orchestra. St. Paul's maintains that this initiative aims to engage new audiences and rethink how the space is used.
However, critics - including members of the Nelson Society and descendants of Horatio Nelson's family - argued that hosting a club-style event in such a historic and sacred setting feels disrespectful.
Opening Doors Without Losing Sight
For the cathedrals and churches using their spaces for secular events, the question remains: what are they now, and what are they becoming? Because when we open the doors to the world, we must be careful that in welcoming everyone, we don't lose sight of what brought people there in the first place.
