Over 2,000 folks have signed a petition protesting the current silent disco at Canterbury Cathedral.
Based by St. Augustine in AD 597, the cathedral stays an necessary pilgrimage middle because the mom church of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and a UNESCO World Heritage Web site. It was additionally the positioning of the martyrdom of England's Archbishop Thomas Becket.
The silent disco featured pop music from the 90s and alcohol was offered within the constructing. On the identical time, a silent vigil was held outdoors the cathedral by Christian protesters.
Regardless of the uproar, extra cathedrals, together with Hereford, Leeds, St Albans, Coventry, Sheffield and Manchester, have signed as much as host silent discos of their buildings within the coming weeks and months. In addition to a silent disco in Could, Manchester Cathedral additionally has a Punk Rock membership evening deliberate for February 29.
A Change.org petition entitled 'Anglican deans, cease turning our nice cathedrals into nightclubs' has been signed by 2,140 folks.
He accuses cathedral deans of desecrating sacred buildings and says the place for silent discos is in nightclubs, not cathedrals.
It calls on Christians to voice their opposition and on deans to show their cathedral buildings into locations of prayer.
“The desecration is not going to cease except we protest with petitions and prayers to indicate the clergy their errors and awaken within the hearts of the folks a renewed reverence for our sacred locations,” it reads.
“We, the undersigned, are towards any desecration of our historic holy locations, and particularly their use as nightclubs. Pricey Anglican Deans, please cease the discos and make the cathedrals homes of prayer as soon as extra.”
Different Christians disputed this occasion.
Christian Concern tweeted: “If Canterbury Cathedral was to draw younger and true believers then a silent disco was positively not the way in which to go.”
Priest and blogger Steve Kneale questioned whether or not there’s any level in filling the church buildings of his constructing with folks if the intention is to not share the gospel.
“I see no cause to imagine that we now have achieved something of evangelistic worth once we see this stuff,” he mentioned.
Merely 'bringing them in' isn’t the identical as doing something for the gospel. Simply 'bringing them in' is not going to convey anybody nearer to Christ. 'Bringing them in' by itself doesn't actually obtain something in any respect. “, he wrote on his weblog.
Vicar and commentator Reverend Daniel French mentioned: “If a silent disco within the birthplace of English Christianity provokes a backlash the place, say, a theater efficiency or live performance doesn’t, it’s as a result of it’s not only a secular use of sacred house, however a parodic first: a caricature of St receiving”.
Christian commentator Adrian Hilton mentioned: “The Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral regard this 'silent disco' as an exercise 'as[s] home of God” (Canon F16). I take a broad view of the mission, however I feel it leans in direction of the profanity 'opposite to the sanctity' (F15) of the shrine of St. Thomas Becket.'
