Lord Nelson’s family condemns ‘raves in the nave' at St Paul's Cathedral where naval hero is buried

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The arrangement will see concerts featuring prominent DJs from the capital taking place beneath the cathedral's famous dome

St Paul's Cathedral has entered into a four-year exclusivity agreement with Fabric, the London nightclub, to host a programme of musical performances inside the historic building.

The arrangement will see contemporary music concerts featuring prominent DJs and musicians from the capital taking place in the nave beneath the cathedral's famous dome. Attendees will be seated for the performances, which are scheduled to occur near the burial sites of Admiral Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and the artist JMW Turner.

The partnership's opening event is set to take place on October 29. Sandra Lynes Timbrell, St Paul's director of visitor engagement, described the programme as featuring world-class talent that would deliver memorable experiences for audiences within one of London's most recognisable landmarks.

The cathedral stated it hopes the collaboration will attract new visitors and encourage fresh engagement with the historic structure.

The plans have provoked sharp criticism from the Nelson Society, which has characterised them as both an "insane" insult and an "act of self-harm". The society's president, Peregrine Hood, who descends from the naval commander's elder brother, has expressed dismay at the development.

Nelson's tomb lies directly beneath the cathedral's central dome in the crypt. Hood questioned whether anything remained sacred, describing the situation as a troubling indicator of declining spiritual values and Christian integrity in contemporary society.

"St Paul's Cathedral positioning itself in this way is deeply depressing," Mr Hood told The Times. He suggested the admiral, whose family had deep church connections, would have been particularly troubled by such treatment of a sacred space.

"Perhaps it is this misuse of a holy site that would have caused him even greater unease than the prospect of masses dancing above his grave," Mr Hood stated. He emphasised the cathedral represents one of Christianity's most significant sacred spaces and holds enormous importance to the nation's history.

Andy Smith, the Nelson Society's press officer, argued the arrangement extends well beyond a single concert occasion. He stated holding such events at what he called "the premier cathedral of the land" was deeply offensive to Christians.

Smith emphasised the naval hero would have found the plans outrageous, noting Nelson's devout faith and origins in a clerical family from East Anglia. Following his death from a French sniper's shot aboard HMS Victory, the admiral was transported back to Britain for burial at St Paul's with complete state honours.

Smith recalled how tens of thousands viewed Nelson's coffin whilst it lay in state at Greenwich, with similar crowds lining the route of the funeral procession. He described Nelson as his era's foremost hero.

"It is a profound insult to his memory, but to all those national heroes who are either buried or memorialised at St Paul's Cathedral," Mr Smith stated. The building also contains memorials to Lord Kitchener and holds the remains of artists including JMW Turner and Joshua Reynolds.

The partnership between St Paul's and Fabric builds upon earlier collaborations at the cathedral. Fabric previously promoted performances by Australian electronic artist RY X in 2024 at the venue.

However, the Farringdon venue has faced controversy in the past. Islington Council withdrew Fabric's licence in 2016 following findings of what authorities described as widespread drug use at the establishment.

The Nelson Society has called for the cathedral to terminate its agreement with the nightclub. Mr Smith questioned the reasoning behind the decision to contract with such a venue, saying it "beggars belief".

The controversy reflects broader tensions surrounding entertainment in sacred spaces. Since Canterbury Cathedral commenced hosting silent discos in 2024, such events have attracted criticism, being labelled "rave in the nave" by detractors. A petition opposing those activities gathered 1,600 signatures.

Musical events at St Paul's have occurred since the 1950s, although the current arrangement represents a significant expansion of this practice.

Cameron Leslie, a co-founder of Fabric, defended the collaboration by highlighting the venue's longstanding commitment to uniting people through musical experiences. He characterised the opportunity as tremendously exciting for the nightclub.

"It's an extraordinary and unexpected coming together of two very different parts of London, and we're looking forward to building on the success of the events we've already held and creating something genuinely special and befitting of this incredible space," Leslie stated.

The nightclub operator emphasised that Fabric has consistently focused on crafting memorable occasions for audiences. Leslie suggested the partnership would allow the venue to continue this tradition whilst honouring the exceptional nature of the cathedral setting.

The cathedral has hosted musical performances dating back to the 1950s.

The current initiative represents an expansion of this history, with officials describing the programme as carefully curated to showcase exceptional contemporary talent.