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🇫🇷 France /Culture & Society

St Paul’s Cathedral Criticized Over Partnership With Famous London Nightclub

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • St Paul’s Cathedral has agreed to a four-year partnership with London nightclub Fabric to hold music events inside the building.
  • The partnership has drawn criticism from the Nelson Society and descendants of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, whose body lies in the cathedral’s crypt.
  • The first concert is scheduled for Oct. 29, with the performer yet to be announced.

Can concerts be held in a place where the dead are buried? St Paul’s Cathedral in London has answered yes, announcing a four-year agreement with the nightclub Fabric to stage music events inside the historic building.

It is an extraordinary and unexpected meeting between two very different sides of London.

· Fabric co-founderHe welcomed the four-year partnership with St Paul’s Cathedral when it was announced.

The cathedral published the partnership on Sept. 1. Fabric’s co-founder called it “an extraordinary and unexpected meeting between two very different sides of London.” The enthusiasm quickly met resistance from descendants of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, whose body rests beneath the central dome in the crypt.

Nelson, the Royal Navy commander who died at Trafalgar in 1805, lies near architect Christopher Wren and the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley. His memory is maintained by the Nelson Society, founded in 1981 and chaired by Peregrine Hood, a descendant of Nelson’s elder brother.

Is nothing sacred anymore? What a sad reflection on the current state of spiritual integrity and Christianity. It is deeply depressing to see St Paul’s Cathedral adopt such a position.

· Peregrine HoodThe Nelson Society chair criticized the decision in a statement to The Times.

Hood condemned the agreement in a statement to The Times. “Is nothing sacred anymore?” he asked, calling the cathedral’s position deeply depressing. He said Nelson came from a deeply religious family and might have been more troubled by what he saw as the misuse of a sacred place than by crowds dancing on his grave.

Nelson came from a family deeply rooted in faith, and perhaps this misuse of a sacred place would have caused him even greater discomfort than the prospect of crowds dancing on his grave.

· Peregrine HoodHe argued that the events would conflict with Nelson’s religious background.

The first concert is due to take place on Oct. 29, although the artist has not been announced. St Paul’s visitor-engagement director said the events could attract new visitors and encourage them to discover the historic building in a new way. The Nelson Society has urged the cathedral to cancel the contract. Its press officer, Andy Smith, said it was inconceivable that the cathedral had entered into the agreement.

It is inconceivable to know what they had in mind when they decided to enter into a contract with this nightclub. It is unbelievable.

· Andy SmithThe Nelson Society press officer called for the agreement to be ended.
About this summary

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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