York Minster is facing backlash over a planned concert by metal band Plague of Angels, which parishioners have described as an "outright insult" to their faith.
Churchgoers are outraged by the band's association with Cradle of Filth, an extreme-metal group known for selling a t-shirt featuring a topless nun and blasphemous text about Jesus, which Rolling Stone called “the most controversial shirt in rock history.”
Speaking to The Guardian, a member of the York Minster congregation said: "This is not merely an issue of taste – this is a question of fundamental ethics and respect.” The congregant described the concert as "an outright insult to the faith it represents”.
The controversy has sparked an intense debate over the suitability of such a performance in a religious and culturally significant venue. While York Minster aims to showcase its newly refurbished organ during the concert, critics argue that hosting a metal band with such a contentious past disrespects the sacredness of the cathedral.
Some churchgoers have already expressed their intent to protest outside the cathedral if the event goes ahead.
The decision to host the concert comes at a time when many UK churches are facing financial strain, with approximately 3,500 churches closing since 2013. Over 900 places of worship are currently listed on Historic England’s “heritage at risk” register, and the Church of Scotland is even considering closing up to 40 per cent of its churches. York Minster, which faces running costs of nearly £4m a year, has defended the decision, stating that the concert was approved by its senior executive team.
A spokesperson for the cathedral said the cathedral was working with the organisers to “ensure this event aligns with our values, and we are really excited by the opportunities it affords to showcase the minster’s musical tradition, building, and the diversity of the people who find a home here”.