‘Horrified’: Graffiti Exhibition At Historic Canterbury Cathedral Sparks Outrage

A graffiti exhibition at Canterbury Cathedral, one of the oldest Christian structures in England dating back to 597, has many people baffled and enraged.

The newly unveiled installation by the poet Alex Vellis and curator Jacqueline Creswell includes graffiti-style messages applied directly to the stone walls of the massive cathedral. Questions such as, “What is the architecture of heaven?” and “Does everything have a soul?” can be seen in the customary graffiti style script on the walls and columns of the building.

“Why are you indifferent to suffering?” another message found beneath a stained glass window says, per ARTnews.

The Church of England decided this week to cover the interior of the oldest cathedral in England in graffiti in order to represent the voices of “marginalised communities.”

The Very Rev David Monteith, Dean of Canterbury, said: “There is a rawness which is magnified by the… pic.twitter.com/bQ6BYsNU2A

— Drew Pavlou ???????????????????????????????? (@DrewPavlou) October 10, 2025

Creswell explained the exhibition’s goals on Instagram, writing, “By collaborating with marginalized communities—including the Punjabi, black and brown diaspora, neurodivergent individuals, and the LGBTQIA+ population—the exhibition promotes inclusivity and representation. It transforms the cathedral into a space where diverse voices can be heard, validating their experiences and fostering a sense of belonging.”

The exhibition has the support of the dean of Canterbury, David Monteith, who said of the display, “There is a rawness which is magnified by the graffiti style, which is disruptive. There is also an authenticity in what is said because it is unfiltered and not tidied up or sanitized. Above all, this graffiti makes me wonder why I am not always able to be as candid, not least in my prayers.”

Get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout

Meanwhile, social media users are voicing their dismay at temporarily desecrating a house of worship.

Irish author Keith Woods posted on X, “Was horrified to see this graffiti on Canterbury Cathedral, founded by St. Augustine [himself], then I discovered it was actually an initiative welcomed by the Church of England!”

“It’s actually stunning how much the elite of Britain hate their own culture and civilization,” Australian conservative activist Drew Pavlou wrote. “You couldn’t even invent this as satire. They are literally scrawling graffiti on the walls of ancient cathedrals. Everything beautiful is just torn down and destroyed.”

The graffiti display is scheduled to remain until January 2026.