PLANS to convert St Paul’s Cathedral into a live music venue have sparked outrage.
The family of Battle of Trafalgar naval hero, Horatio Nelson, blasted the decision, saying: “Is nothing sacred any more?”
St Paul’s Cathedral announced a four-year partnership with London’s Fabric nightclub on Tuesday.
The 17th-century landmark will subsequently host a number of live music events, starting in October, where Lord Nelson was laid to rest.
Peregrine Hood, a descendent of the famed naval commander and president of the Nelson society, has slammed the proposals.
He told The Telegraph likened the plans to “dancing on Nelson’s grave” and said it was an “insult to Lord Nelson’s memory”.
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“St Paul’s Cathedral positioning itself in this way is deeply depressing,” he said.
“Nelson came from a family steeped in the Church, and perhaps it is this misuse of a holy site that would have caused him even greater unease than the prospect of dancing on his grave,” he said.
Mr Hood added that St Paul’s was ” a place of enormous significance to our national life and history“.
The first event is due to take place on October 29 with the artist yet to be announced.
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Sandra Lynes Timbrell, Director of Visitor Engagement at St Paul’s Cathedral, said on Tuesday they were “delighted to be partnering” with the nightclub.
She said there will be a “carefully curated programme of exceptional concerts” and hopes it will “introduce new visitors to the Cathedral”.
The Sun has contacted St Paul’s cathedral for comment.
“We look forward to inviting people to experience the unique atmosphere that live music can create within this remarkable setting,” she said.
In 2024, Canterbury Cathedral was also criticised for hosting a disco event, dubbed as a “rave in the nave”.
Nelson was shot dead aged 47 on HMS Victory while beating a French and Spanish fleet in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar near Cadiz.
His body was brought back to England and buried at St Paul’s Cathedral’s crypt in a full state-funeral.
Thousands watched him travel through the streets to the landmark and he was later joined by his close friend and second-in-command, Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood.
St Paul’s Cathedral is the UK’s most popular religious attraction with over two million visitors each year.
It was designed by world-renowned architect Sir Christopher Wren and was completed in 1710, after the original cathedral was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.
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Amazingly, the stunning landmark even survived the London Blitz during World War II.
It is also steeped in royal history and hosted the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.