Graffiti tags posing questions to God in a new art installation at Canterbury Cathedral have sparked a mixed reaction.
Some pilgrims visiting the historic landmark say the pieces on the holy building’s pillars, walls and floors have made it look like an “underground car park in Peckham”, while others have praised it for challenging visitors.
The artworks in a project titled “Hear Us” were created in community workshops earlier in the year and feature musings such as: “Are you there?” and “Why did you create hate when love is by far more powerful?”
Co-creator and poet Alex Vellis said: “This project, at its core, is about community, using your voice, and change. Graffiti is the language of the unheard.”
The Very Rev David Monteith, Dean of Canterbury, said: “There is a rawness which is magnified by the graffiti style, which is disruptive. It is unfiltered and not sanitised.
“This exhibition intentionally builds bridges between cultures, styles and genres and allows us to receive the gifts of younger people who have much to say.”
The Cathedral notes it has long been home to historic graffiti, including masons’ marks, crosses, and pilgrim inscriptions dating back centuries.
The installation continues this centuries-old tradition of expression.
Curator Jacquiline Creswell said: “Within a theological context, posing a question to God is a form of prayer, meditation, or contemplation, offering guidance and solace amidst life’s uncertainties.”
The installation – which officially launches next week – also highlights the voices of marginalised communities, allowing people often overlooked in society to have their thoughts and questions displayed in a public, historic space.
However, some early visitors described the work as “sacrilegious” and compared it to an “underground car park in Peckham”.
On social media, Elizabeth Tay Kemp called it “vandalism,” while Paul Barnes warned it might encourage “unwanted activities elsewhere”.
But other visitors praised the installation’s artistry and emotional impact.
Alexandra Weiss said churches have always been spaces for art, challenging visitors and opening new horizons.
Sally-Ann Edlin added: “I’m not a fan of graffiti, but I acknowledge it is a form of art. Art is there to challenge as well as please. Well done.”
Canterbury Cathedral has used out-of-the-box methods to attract visitors to the historic site in recent years – including a series of silent disco events.
“Hear Us” officially opens on October 17 and runs until January 18.
It is free to view with valid Cathedral admission, with talks, historic graffiti tours and family graffiti-themed activities also planned.
