Raves in the Nave: Has St Paul’s Lost the Plot?

In this episode of Irreverend Faith and Current Affairs, Rev. Dr. Jamie Franklin is joined by Rev. Thomas Pelham for a wide-ranging discussion on two major stories.
First: Sadiq Khan celebrates a partnership between Fabric nightclub and St Paul’s Cathedral. Is this just another concert in a historic building, or a sign that the Church of England has lost the distinction between the sacred and the secular? Jamie and Tom examine Bishop Robert Barron’s strong critique, Gavin Ashenden’s polemics, and the wider question of what church buildings are actually for.
Second: Cambridge academic and Reform UK policy chief James Orr is forced to step down after being caught in a journalistic sting discussing foreign funding. Was it illegal? Immoral? Or just politically disastrous? The pair dig into the optics, the law, Nigel Farage’s ruthless response, and what it means for Christian influence in politics.
Also in this episode: the assisted dying bill, the AfD surge in Germany, Iceland rejecting the EU, and a listener question about blessing children’s backpacks.
Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro & banter
7:04 – Lord’s Prayer & Psalm 117
13:30 – Fabric nightclub at St Paul’s Cathedral
25:13 – Bishop Robert Barron’s critique of sacred vs secular
33:02 – Gavin Ashenden & Roman Catholic reactions
36:32 – James Orr, Reform UK & the foreign funding controversy
50:02 – Assisted dying, abortion & the AfD rise in Germany
1:00:39 – Listener question: blessing backpacks
1:06:41 – Closing prayer
Support Irreverend:
🔥 Patreon → patreon.com/irreverend
🔥 Substack → irreverendpod.substack.com
📧 Email / donations → irreverendpod@gmail.com
Like, subscribe, comment and share if you want more fearless commentary on church, culture and current affairs.
#StPauls #Fabric #JamesOrr #ReformUK #ChurchOfEngland #Irreverend
Support the show (patreon.com/irreverend)