UPDATE 11/2/24: The Canterbury Cathedral Disco has now taken place, despite our petition of over 1600 signatures and our prayer vigil outside the Cathedral

UPDATE September 24: Silent Discos are now regular events at Canterbury Cathedral and others, making lots of money for private companies which run them, and relatively little for the Cathedral themselves. Peterborough Cathedral is to become the host of several non-silent Ibiza club nights in November and doubtless most other cathedrals will follow.

The desecration will not stop unless we resist, with petitions and prayers, to show the clergy their errors and awaken in people's hearts a renewed reverence of our sacred places.

Cathedrals which have held discos and club nights:

Hereford Cathedral
Guildford Cathedral
Chelmsford Cathedral

Exeter Cathedral
Leeds Minster
St Albans Cathedral
Ely Cathedral 
Coventry Cathedral 
Sheffield Cathedral 
St Edmundsbury Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral (Wales)
Manchester Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral

Peterborough Cathedral

We the undersigned oppose all desecration of our historic holy places, and especially their use as nightclubs. Dear Anglican Deans, please stop the discos and make the Cathedrals houses of prayer once more.

Please sign and share this updated petition, and allow email updates to hear about protest prayer vigils outside a Cathedral near you. Together we have the power to make our Cathedrals sacred again.

Sacred Matters Website for more info on prayer vigils and media links

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ORIGINAL PETITION started 6/10/23: Archbishop Welby, Stop the Silent Disco at Canterbury Cathedral

"My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of robbers.” Matthew 21:12-13

Or, in this case, ravers.

In February 2024, a silent disco will take place over two nights in the nave of Canterbury Cathedral. It is a strictly 18+ event, featuring plenty of alcohol and the music of the 90’s: Britney, Spice Girls, Eminem and the Vengaboys.

Archbishop Justin Welby, everyone likes a Silent Disco, but its place is in a nightclub, not in Canterbury Cathedral.

The most important Christian church in England.

The site of the martyrdom and relics of Saint Thomas Becket.

The repository for the mortal remains of kings, princes and bishops.

The destination of millions of pilgrims for centuries, past, present and future.

The inspiration for our greatest early work of literature.

And most importantly, the epicentre of countless prayers and sacraments - the House of God.

Do not profane this holy site of which you are custodian.

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 our attention more than God. That Christians do not take their faith or their holy places seriously.

That Christianity is a lame joke.

Archbishop Welby, hear our petition, as your brothers and sisters in Christ, and stop the Silent Disco. Make the Cathedral a house of prayer once more.