Over the last few weeks we have seen a group of anti-capitalist protestors managing to close the doors of St Paul’s Cathedral for the first time since the blitz.
On Monday, I went to have a look and found one of the most organised demonstrations that I’ve seen in a long time. Musicians sang protest songs, others gathered for seminars and tents huddled around St Paul’s made it look like a festival. Yet pathways were clear, bins were being used and everyone was very friendly. Each evening they have an open meeting on the steps of St Paul’s with speakers getting agreement from people waving both hands or disagreement signalled by making a cross with their forearms. As I sat there, they debated whether to make the camp an alcohol free zone.
Now depending on your point of view, this lot are either a reminder of unfinished business in the city or a self-righteous blot on our ecclesiastical heritage. Whichever is true, they are certainly something of a headache for my colleagues at St Paul’s.
One of the particular aspect of this which interests me, however, is that such a debate is happening within the shadow of this great cathedral and on some of their land. When so much of our public squares are actually privately owned, the space for grass roots events and legitimate protest shrinks ever further. It is particularly sad that these events have led to the resignation of one of my more thought provoking colleagues. We will now need to see what the future direction is of the Dean and Chapter.
It strikes me however that, in the midst of the city, St Paul’s ought to do all that it can to leave the door open to such an important debate.
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