Inside the St Paul’s Fabric ‘raves’, which are nothing like you think

The St Paul’s ‘raves’ are an exquisite evening of culture: ★★★★★

There was the sound of cans being cracked open between songs, but those cans were filled with water… 

And beers had to be left at the door: about the most rebellious thing I saw at the St Paul’s Fabric ‘rave’ last night was two blokes sipping on craft ales in the queue – but they had to chuck those in the bin before they entered the hallowed building.

It was hardly a pulsating, thunderous clubnight, more a serene affair at the first of St Paul’s collaborations with the nightclub Fabric, the beginning of a four-year event series.

And despite tabloid murmurings of the show being the equivalent of a rave, everyone was sitting motionless in their chairs, the polite crowd silent throughout the hour-and-ten-minute-long show, watching the music respectfully from the pews.

Inside the St Paul’s ‘raves’

It was the controversial first night of the electronic music collaboration between the Cathedral and one of central London’s biggest nightclubs. Ahead of the night, the Daily Mail published criticism from the president of the Nelson Society (Lord Nelson is buried at the Cathedral), who expressed his unease that ticketholders would be “dancing on his [Nelson’s] grave,” and called the events a “sad reflection” on Christianity.

But – as I wrote in an op-ed earlier this autumn – this criticism derives from the snobbish perspective that all electronic music will induce antisocial behaviour.

The programmers of Fabric, it turns out, can also curate sophisticated evenings where sitting rather than dancing is the vibe. The musicians last night, who are members of The Cinematic Orchestra, were playing atmospheric, low-fi electronica, fused with soul and groove, featuring live singers. There was a drum kit, but it was never used heavily, and there was barely ever even a driving beat. This was modern classical music, composed with synthesisers, one of which was on stage, but the result was sophisticated, grown-up electronica: the sort of music that makes you sit and think, rather than the sort of music that makes you want to lose your mind.

Mesmeric

That said, I’d see no issue with bringing more danceable music into the St Paul’s pews.

It was a mesmeric evening. The music was wonderful, but it was equally special to see the Cathedral’s roof bathed in brown and red hues of light. And a privilege to sit and listen to such contemporary sounds and talented non-religious artists in such a historic setting. And it was wonderful to see hundreds of young, fashionable, City types in here, who’d swerved going to the pub for one Thirsty Thursdays to visit the Cathedral instead. 

I’m sure I’m representative of most who work in the City when I say I’ve come to an office in the neighbourhood most days for the past five years, but only twice been into St Paul’s. The reality is people like me need an event like this to bring us in. And once I’m inside, there are very few spaces as special to spend an evening with live music.

There is absolutely nothing controversial here, it is simply bringing in new audiences, and given how prominent the Cathedral is in the Square Mile, the local community engaging with it more fully can only be a good thing.

Other Cathedral ‘raves’ are taking place across the country. Martin Kemp from Spandau Ballet is performing his ‘Back to the 80s’ DJ sets in Bristol, Guildford and Peterborough Cathedrals, and the ‘Silent Discos in Incredible Places’ tour has seen Canterbury, Ely, Coventry, Manchester, Salisbury, Sheffield and Hereford Cathedral’s double as places to dance. 

Cathedrals like St Paul’s receive no state funding

Besides the current trend though, the acoustic attributes of these venues have long been recognised as ideal for clubbing – former churches in cities including Bournemouth and Leeds have been refashioned as late-night music venues. 

These events cook up cash for the venues. Cathedrals and other religious venues receive no direct state funding, and very little of the Church of England’s money goes into their maintenance. The costs of running these institutions is getting higher under cost of living constraints. These events – like the St Paul’s one which sold out – are bringing in decent cash. Tickets for the St Paul’s Fabric collaboration evenings cost between £25 and £35. Given the venue capacity is 3,500, back-of-fag-packet sums means the Cathedral might have brought in £87,500 from last night alone. 

It’s the sort of cash that I’d hope would have the Dean cutting shapes in the aisles. I might not have been dancing last night, but I’d hope with that kind of profit, he was once us punters were kicked out.

St Paul’s Cathedral‘s Fabric collaboration runs over four years