The curator of a Canterbury Cathedral art exhibition, which has drawn backlash for being “sacrilegious”, has said that people have levied “hurtful” personal insults against her.

The ‘Hear Us’ project - which sees existential questions pasted around the Cathedral walls - even drew backlash from US Vice President JD Vance, who wrote on X that it had “made a beautiful building ugly”.

Curator Jacquiline Creswell told Premier Christian News that the art is intended to be a “conversation between the past and the present”. It features phrases such as: "God, what happens when we die?" and "Does everything have a soul?"

The graffiti font style was inspired by historical "graffiti" already in the Cathedral – such as masons’ marks left on stones, and casual etchings from congregants over its 1400-year history.

The questions were inspired by conversations which poet Alex Vellis had with marginalised groups living in Canterbury.

“These people believe in God,” Creswell said. “But they don’t feel welcome in the Cathedral. I think this project helped them to feel that they belong inside the Cathedral, which is in Canterbury – their home.”

Creswell told Premier that some of the backlash has resulted in personal criticisms against her and Vellis:

“The amount of personal abuse Alex and I have received on social media, from people who are ‘Christian’… that has been hurtful. In no way did we want to desecrate the building. I don’t think asking God a question is anything other than a beautiful reflection, and even a form of prayer.”

The exhibition opens to the public on 17th October, so all criticism thus far has been made without visiting the project. 

"We've also had lots of positive responses to the exhibition," Creswell said. "The questions posed are very vulnerable and profound. I hope visitors feel moved to ask God a question themselves."