A newly unveiled graffiti art installation at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England, has polarized the public, with many claiming that these profane works don’t belong in such a sacred and historic space.The installation was made by the poet Alex Vellis and the curator Jacqueline Creswell, the latter of whom previously oversaw art installations at Salisbury Cathedral. The works, which appear directly on Canterbury Cathedral’s walls, ask questions related to spirituality. “What is the architecture of heaven?” reads one of those queries. “Does everything have a soul?” reads another.Some also allude to a broader social context. “Does our struggle mean anything?” reads one work cast on a flight of stairs. “Why are you indifferent to suffering?” reads another set beneath a stained glass window.The show, titled “HEAR US,” was the result of community workshops that centered around the question: “What would you ask God?” Creswell wrote of the work on social media, “By collaborating with marginalized communities—including the Punjabi, black and brown diaspora, neurodivergent individuals, and the LGBTQIA+ population—the exhibition promotes inclusivity and representation. It transforms the cathedral into a space where diverse voices can be heard, validating their experiences and fostering a sense of belonging.”The show is Canterbury-approved and is set to remain on view through January 18. David Monteith, dean of Canterbury, said in a statement, “This exhibition intentionally builds bridges between cultures, styles and genres and, in particular, allows us to receive the gifts of younger people who have much to say and from whom we need to hear much.”“HEAR US” is going on view not long after Sarah Mullally was named the Archbishop of Canterbury. Her appointment has been controversial among conservative Anglican archbishops, who have denounced some of Mullally’s views, most notably her position that same-sex couples should be allowed to continue receiving blessings from the Church of England.“HEAR US” is not yet fully installed—it formally opens to the public on October 17, though photos of it have already begun circulating widely. But it has already drawn condemnation on social media. Keith Woods, a far-right commentator from Ireland, quoted Creswell’s comments on “marginalized communities” and wrote, on X, “Was horrified to see this graffiti on Canterbury Cathedral, founded by St. Augustine himsef [sic], then I discovered it was actually an initiative welcomed by the Church of England!” His post has already gained more than 4,000 likes.Drew Pavlou, a conservative activist from Australia, also quoted the “marginalized communities” comment, and wrote, “They are literally scrawling graffiti on the walls of ancient cathedrals. Everything beautiful is just torn down and destroyed.” That X post has more than 8,000 likes.“HEAR US” at Canterbury Cathedral.Courtesy Canterbury CathedralOthers seemed more generally disturbed by the aesthetic of “HEAR US.” “Who’s up for overpainting the graffiti in the South Bank Skate Park with Fra Angelicos to buld [sic] ‘bridges between cultures’, as the Dean of Canterbury says?” wrote historian Bijan Omrani on X.Also on X, Marcus Wakler, a clergyman in the Church of England, wrote, “There is something deeply bizarre about the way in which the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury delight in desecrating their sacred space. It feels almost Freudian.”Some commentators even criticized the installation for not going far enough. “In an age when the cross still gets people killed and where it still can shock, when its message is more subversive and more needed than ever: that could have been the centre point of a truly transgressive exhibition,” wrote Fergus Butler-Gallie, an Anglican priest who has written a book on church architecture.Founded in 597, Canterbury Cathedral remains a major tourist attraction, luring 9.8 million people in 2024 alone. It is prized not only for its historical significance but also for its architecture: the cathedral was once a shining example of the Romanesque style, though much of its Romanesque elements were lost in a 1067 fire. After the blaze, the cathedral was rebuilt in the Gothic style, and it is not considered one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in England.The cathedral, for its part, has stood by “HEAR US,” proudly playing up its divisiveness in a press release on Thursday.