Silent disco is not a ‘rave in the nave’, cathedral insists
CANTERBURY Cathedral has claimed its silent disco is “appropriate” following backlash over the “rave in the nave”.
Clubbers will take to the nave in sellout events on Thursday and Friday for a 90s-themed disco featuring hits from the Vengaboys, Britney Spears, Spice Girls and Eminem. It is expected that 750 people will attend each day. Tickets were £25 but are now sold out.
Church leaders are using the event, where alcohol will be available, as a way to reach out to younger people and raise “large sums” in order to keep the Cathedral running, with the landmark’s historic Nave as a dancefloor.
However, petitioners say silent discos belong in nightclubs, not “the most important Christian church in England”. But Canterbury has hit back and defended the event, insisting it will be “respectful” of the historic site, first established in the year 597.
The Dean of Canterbury, the Very Rev David Monteith, said: “Whilst dancing of all different kinds has happened in the cathedral over the centuries, there are many different views on the secular and the sacred. Our 90s-themed silent disco will be appropriate to and respectful of the cathedral – it is categorically not a ‘rave in the nave’ – but I appreciate that some will never agree that dancing and pop music have a place within cathedrals.”
Dr Monteith added: “Cathedrals have always been part of community life in a way much wider than their prime focus as centres of Christian worship.”
Critics said it is inappropriate to host this sort of event at a cathedral.
A petition to stop the discos has attracted more than 1,600 signatures.
Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said: “Will the real Church of England please stand up, please stand up.
“The reason why cathedrals were built was to point towards the majesty and beauty and reverence of God and Jesus Christ, not the lyrics of Eminem.”
Dr Cajetan Skowronski, who organised the petition, said: “It will not bring young people closer to Christ, rather it will send the message that Christ and his church, and all the truth, beauty and goodness it has to offer, are unimportant – that entertainment deserves attention more than God.”