US Catholic Bishop Robert Barron has publicly criticised St Paul's Cathedral in London after it announced a new multi-year concert partnership with Fabric, a London nightclub previously stripped of its licence following two drug-related deaths. Although St Paul's is an Anglican, not Catholic, institution, Barron argued the deal reflects a broader failure by Church of England leadership to distinguish sacred spaces from secular entertainment, warning it risks further eroding young people's sense of the divine.

Under the agreement, Fabric will be St Paul's exclusive events partner until 2030, with the first concert scheduled for 29 October, though the performer has not yet been confirmed. The BBC reported the events will be concerts rather than "raves", with cathedral officials hoping a curated programme will attract visitors who might not otherwise attend. The move echoes a similar 2024 controversy at Canterbury Cathedral, which faced criticism after hosting sold-out 90s-themed "silent discos", mocked by critics as a "rave in the nave".