Gloucester Cathedral, which dates back to 678 AD received planning permission to install 17 CCTV cameras.
In a design statement, cathedral architect Antony Feltham-King, defended the plans and said the aim was to make "suitable provisions to reduce crime in and around the Cathedral Precincts".
The cathedral said in the first half of 2017 alone there were 56 incidents of crime on its site.
However, Gloucester Civic Trust disagreed with this method to prevent crime.
"The panel is at a loss to understand why this clutter needs to be added to the listed buildings of the city's premier conservation area," the Trust said in a statement.
"They could instead be attached to various lamp posts and other street furniture which is already in place."
The Home Office will fund the installation of the cameras under the 'Vulnerable Faith Institutions Scheme'.
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