‘Insult and madness’: Historic St. Paul’s Cathedral hires DJ for four years

State weddings and funerals They mix in their history. From the funerals of Admiral Lord Nelson, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, the ceremonies to commemorate the end of the First and Second World Wars, the marriage of the current King Charles and Princess Diana, and the Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

That is why it is inadmissible that the cathedral has signed a four year contract with the Fabric nightclub to organize DJ concerts.

Horatio Nelson’s family have criticized plans for a nightclub in the Cathedral, where naval commander the Duke of Wellington and JMW Turner are buried.

Admiral Nelson’s family is horrified by the idea. Even the Argentine Navy wears a black band on its uniform in mourning for Admiral Nelson.

St. Paul’s Cathedral announced that seated concerts will allow the public access the shipunder the famous dome, to enjoy “extraordinary and unexpected” performances of contemporary musicby the most prominent DJs and musicians in the capital.

However, the Nelson Society, whose president is Peregrine Hood, a descendant of the naval commander’s elder brother, has called the events “insult,” “insanity,” and “an act of self-destruction.” Nelson is buried just under the central dome, in the crypt.

“This seems to go far beyond a one-off concert,” said society spokesman Andy Smith. He added that the fact that the event was held in “the country’s first cathedral” was deeply offensive to Christians.

Smith claimed that Nelson would have been outraged by the event. The naval hero was a deeply religious man and came from a family of East Anglia churchgoers. After being wounded by a French sniper and dying aboard HMS Victory, Nelson’s body slowly returned to Britain, where he was buried in St Paul’s Cathedral with full state honours.

“Nelson’s reputation is sometimes tarnished by revisionist historians, who will cling to anything and everything. But when Nelson was buried, tens of thousands of people came to see his body and coffin at the chapel of burial in Greenwich. Tens of thousands gathered in the streets to watch the state funeral procession,” Smith said.

“He was the absolute hero of his time. It is a profound insult to his memory. But also to that of all the national heroes who are buried or commemorated in St. Paul’s Cathedral,” he said.

Along with Nelson, Lord Kitchener, who led British troops in the First World War, has a chapel in his honour. Artists such as Turner and Joshua Reynolds are also buried in the largest church in the capital.

Reconciliation with the British over the Malvinas War was celebrated there, and President Carlos Saúl Menem, on his state visit to London.

Speaking to The Times, Hood said: “Is there nothing sacred anymore? What a sad reflection of the current state of spiritual integrity and Christianity. “For St Paul’s Cathedral to position itself in this way is deeply depressing.”

“Nelson came from a family deeply rooted in the Church. Perhaps this misuse of a sacred place would have caused him even greater concern than the prospect of masses being celebrated over his grave,” he said.

“This goes far beyond Nelson. Saint Paul is one of the great sacred spaces of Christianity and a place of enormous importance for our life and national history,” said the admiral’s relative.

It is not the first time that Fabric has organized an event in this sacred place. RY X, Australian electronic artist, and Patti Smith participated in events promoted by the nightclub in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

The Nelson Society has urged the cathedral to terminate the contract with Fabric. “It’s inconceivable to know what they were thinking when they decided to sign a contract with the nightclub. It’s incredible,” Smith said.

The nightclub, in Farringdon, lost its license in 2016 after Islington Council discovered what it described as “a culture of drug use on the premises.”

Musical events, such as those organized by the nightclub, have become more controversial since Canterbury Cathedral began hosting “silent parties” in 2024. They were nicknamed “rave on the ship.” A petition against these events was signed by 1.600 personas.

Sandra Lynes Timbrell, director of visitor engagement in San Pablo, said: “These events show world class talent. Crean unforgettable experiences for the public in one of the most emblematic places in London”.

“We hope that this collaboration will attract new visitors to the cathedral, encouraging them to discover and interact with this historic building in new and exciting ways,” he said.

Cameron Leslie, co-founder of Fabric, commented: “This is an extraordinary and unexpected union of two very different entities.”

The cathedral is illuminated with psychedelic lights and everyone dances in this religious temple of British history during the concerts.