Right across from the colourful, shining “RISING” lights pinned onto Flinders Street Station, stands “Victoria’s most visited sacred place”, St Paul’s Cathedral. What is usually a sanctuary for quiet reflection and prayers, became the setting of an awesome celebration and coming together of community.

Being one of the last events at this year’s RISING festival, Shouse Communitas was expected to welcome large crowds. And the crowds did not disappoint. Communitas is an event for all individuals to come together and make music, dance and have fun as a collective.  Despite having been in the St Paul’s Cathedral choir for just over 12 years, I have never seen the cathedral so packed and lively. With most of the pews removed and lighting fixtures and installations hung from the high ceilings, the cathedral was transformed into an expansive place of devotion.

Despite the event starting a little later than its advertised 4pm, it was to be expected given that thousands of attendees had to be safely packed into the space. Walking into the sea of moody lighting, the congregants awaited their signal to begin. Then, all the lights turned off and we were left in the warm sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows. As the organ started the performance with a strong chord, an orange ring of light formed a halo in the middle of the sea of people. What followed was what I can only describe as a captivating communal performance celebrating love and community. While the choreographers from Deep Soulful Sweats led the masses “in a spiralling procession towards communal ecstasy”, the performance was also accompanied by a communal band. A small group of saxophones and trumpets led the march around the side isles and back through the centre alter which felt like a triumphant parade.

While the rapturous collective singing of repetitive lyrics, “I can feel it rising” felt very cult-like, I was nonetheless captivated by the overwhelming awe that so many people could spontaneously come together to sing, dance and play. What really captured the beauty of the night were the lyrics “I would do anything in the name of love”, while different lights flew around to illuminate various sections of the cathedral.

Finally, as a procession made its way down the centre isle towards the great stained-glass doors, the chant “When you call out my name, I will run to you again” was sung. This particular section of the night really mimicked a church service with a procession of clergy and choir, signalling that the performance was coming to an end. The night ended with one last collective huddle in the middle of the church, everyone’s hands reaching up—as if trying to grasp someone’s hand—and exhaling a final “Aaah communitas!”

During the performance, I got a quick chance to ask one of the halves of Shouse, Jack Madin, what the event meant. He exclaimed, “Communitas!”, which means “a second coming of community”.

I understand that some in the Anglican community may find St Paul’s Cathedral holding this event sacrilegious or even blasphemous. However, I believe that this event highlights one of the cathedral’s missions: to welcome and “actively reach out to the peoples of our City.” Although neither the event nor its participants were explicitly religious, the event seemed to centre around love and community. These values, of course, echo key Christian principles. Whether you agree or not, the cathedral was—only for a night—transformed into something special. The night highlighted the beauty of collective gathering under the cathedral’s incredible architecture. I think it would be unbecoming of the cathedral to only limit ‘believers’ to witness the cathedral’s splendour and majesty.

A huge congratulations to Shouse for such a captivating and unique event. Not many events can mimic the sheer feeling and scale of Shouse Communitas. Talking to the attendees afterwards, those there described that “it really felt like we became something special—even for a night”. I don’t think words can fully encapsulate the feeling of the whole event, but it was definitely a night I’d want everyone to experience.