Chapter House
From the bustling café to the offices and song school above, every corner is in constant use providing core facilities for the congregation and visitors, and essential working space for staff and clergy.
The Chapter House (foreground)The Chapter House
Since its grand opening by HM Queen Elizabeth II in 1982, the Chapter House of St Albans Abbey continues to be a very hard-working building indeed.
From the bustling café to the offices and song school above, every corner is in constant use by a broad mix of different groups.
It is very much the lungs of the cathedral, breathing people in and out of the ancient Abbey, providing core facilities for the congregation and visitors, and essential working space for staff and clergy.
Origins
Today's Chapter House stands on the same spot as its medieval predecessor, which was destroyed during the Reformation.
In the 1970s, the Abbey was desperately short of space and, in 1973, Dean Peter Moore announced his vision for a new chapter house, inspired by the monastic buildings which had once served the Abbey.
Today, the doors of the Chapter House are always open, and it's lively and friendly atmosphere is a testament to the success of Dean Moore's vision.
As well as providing much needed space and vital facilities - including a library, café, gift shop, vestries, youth crypt and song school - the chapter house has become a powerful symbol of the Abbey's role in the community and a tangible expression of the Ministry of Welcome.
