Publications from the Friends

The Friends publish a range of attractive publications about the Cathedral and its fascinating history. These may be purchased in person from the Cathedral shop or directly from the Friends.

Orders may be sent by email to [email protected] with payment made by PayPal using this link: http://paypal.me/FriendsStAlban

UK customers should add the postage and packing charge for each item as indicated on the publications list. Customers from outside the UK should email us for the postage and packing rate to be added to the order.

Alternatively, you can order by post. Please enclose a cheque made out to "The Fraternity of the Friends of St Albans Abbey" and send your order to:

Friends Publications
St Albans Cathedral
Sumpter Yard
St Albans
Herts
AL1 1BY

	St Albans Cathedral Wall Paintings Professor M. A. Michael 2019 \| 80pp \| Published by Scala \| ISBN 978-1-78551-177-6 Price £10, plus £2.80 for postage and packing. This new book on the wall paintings was published to coincide with the launch of the project to recreate the four large images in the nave using light projection. Fully illustrated with stunning photography by Angelo Hornak and with new research by Professor Michael, this is a beautiful book which offers a detailed discussion of the individual paintings and sets them in their wider artistic context. The book also includes a short section on the light projection project and discusses how the reconstruction of the nave images was achieved.
	St Alban and his Shrine Michael Clasby 2019 \| 32pp \| ISBN 978-0-9502514-7-9 Price £4.95, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. The shrine of St Alban is one of the finest examples of a medieval shrine existing in Britain. This book introduces the reader to the story of Alban and the history and spirituality of the shrine dedicated to him.
	John of Wheathampstead: Renaissance Abbot Professor James G Clark 2018 \| 24pp \| ISBN 978-0-9502514-6-2 Price £4.50, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. Abbot John of Wheathampstead’s grave was discovered during excavations for the new Welcome Centre in 2017. This book, written by a leading authority on the medieval Abbey, summarises Abbot John’s life and achievements and explains why he was one of the greatest medieval abbots of St Albans.
	Matthew Paris: Monk and Chronicler of St Albans Abbey Michael Clasby and Gail Thomas 2015 \| 40pp \| ISBN 978-0-9506829-9-0 Price £4.50, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. Matthew Paris is one of the best known monks of St Albans Abbey. A prolific writer who wrote about current events and the history of the Abbey, he was also an artist with a distinctive style as well as an early map-maker.
	Christina of Markyate: The Lady of the Psalter Jane Kelsall 2013 \| 28pp \| ISBN 978-0-9506829-8-3 Price £4.50, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. The St Albans Psalter is one of the most beautiful manuscripts created in St Albans Abbey. It was made for Christina of Markyate. This book tells the story of her eventful life – her escape from an enforced marriage and how she became a nun and spiritual advisor to Abbot Geoffrey.
	Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester 1381-1447 Jane Kelsall 2nd edition 2013 \| 24pp \| ISBN 978-0-9506829-6-9 Price £4.50, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. Humphrey was son, brother and uncle to three kings of England. A frequent visitor to St Albans Abbey and a benefactor, he asked to be buried here. A scholarly man, he gave many books to Oxford University. He was also a soldier who fought at the battle of Agincourt.
	The Nave Screen Martyr Statues, St Albans Cathedral Julia Low and Ailsa Herbert, eds 2016 \| 28pp \| ISBN 978-0-9506829-0-7 Price £4.50, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. Seven new statues by Rory Young were installed on the nave screen in 2015. This book explains why the statues were commissioned and tells the stories of the martyrs represented on the screen. It also outlines how the statues were created.
	St Albans: Cathedral and Abbey Martin Biddle et al 2nd edition 2015 \| 128pp \| Published by Scala ISBN 978-1-85759-976-3 Price £9.95, plus £3.50 for postage and packing. This lavishly illustrated book tells the story of the Abbey from Alban to the present; from the earliest evidence of Romano-British Christianity to the imposing and much-loved building that we see today, which was raised to cathedral status in 1877. The text, written by experts in their fields, illuminates not only the building and its history but also the story of St Alban and shows how Alban is still commemorated here today.
	The Organs and Musicians of St Albans Cathedral Andrew Lucas 2009 \| 50pp \| ISBN 978-0-9502514-5-5 Price £6.95, plus £2 for postage and packing. Drawing extensively on Peter Hurford’s history of the organs of St Albans Abbey, this publication also has much additional and fascinating material, including a chapter on the restoration completed in 2009. Short biographies of many previous Organists and Masters of the Music also feature.
	A Short Graffiti Tour of St Albans Abbey Michael Rose, Gail Thomas and Joyce Wells 3rd edition 2014 \| 20pp \| ISBN 978-0-9506829-3-8 Price £2.95, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. This book will guide you on a tour of some of the Cathedral’s most interesting and accessible graffiti.

Latest

Medieval Themed Activities

Celebrate the start of our Medieval Summer with activities for all the family to enjoy.
An Introduction to the Old Testament

A 10-week course introducing the theology, structure, themes and history of the Old Testament
Cyclists from St Albans Cathedral launch Cathedrals Cycle Route

A team of cyclists from St Albans Cathedral joined the launch of the Cathedral's cycle route.
Cathedrals at Night

Explore the Cathedral's stunning architecture after hours and meet characters from the Medieval Abbey's past

	St Albans Cathedral Wall Paintings Professor M. A. Michael 2019 \| 80pp \| Published by Scala \| ISBN 978-1-78551-177-6 Price £10, plus £2.80 for postage and packing. This new book on the wall paintings was published to coincide with the launch of the project to recreate the four large images in the nave using light projection. Fully illustrated with stunning photography by Angelo Hornak and with new research by Professor Michael, this is a beautiful book which offers a detailed discussion of the individual paintings and sets them in their wider artistic context. The book also includes a short section on the light projection project and discusses how the reconstruction of the nave images was achieved.
	St Alban and his Shrine Michael Clasby 2019 \| 32pp \| ISBN 978-0-9502514-7-9 Price £4.95, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. The shrine of St Alban is one of the finest examples of a medieval shrine existing in Britain. This book introduces the reader to the story of Alban and the history and spirituality of the shrine dedicated to him.
	John of Wheathampstead: Renaissance Abbot Professor James G Clark 2018 \| 24pp \| ISBN 978-0-9502514-6-2 Price £4.50, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. Abbot John of Wheathampstead’s grave was discovered during excavations for the new Welcome Centre in 2017. This book, written by a leading authority on the medieval Abbey, summarises Abbot John’s life and achievements and explains why he was one of the greatest medieval abbots of St Albans.
	Matthew Paris: Monk and Chronicler of St Albans Abbey Michael Clasby and Gail Thomas 2015 \| 40pp \| ISBN 978-0-9506829-9-0 Price £4.50, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. Matthew Paris is one of the best known monks of St Albans Abbey. A prolific writer who wrote about current events and the history of the Abbey, he was also an artist with a distinctive style as well as an early map-maker.
	Christina of Markyate: The Lady of the Psalter Jane Kelsall 2013 \| 28pp \| ISBN 978-0-9506829-8-3 Price £4.50, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. The St Albans Psalter is one of the most beautiful manuscripts created in St Albans Abbey. It was made for Christina of Markyate. This book tells the story of her eventful life – her escape from an enforced marriage and how she became a nun and spiritual advisor to Abbot Geoffrey.
	Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester 1381-1447 Jane Kelsall 2nd edition 2013 \| 24pp \| ISBN 978-0-9506829-6-9 Price £4.50, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. Humphrey was son, brother and uncle to three kings of England. A frequent visitor to St Albans Abbey and a benefactor, he asked to be buried here. A scholarly man, he gave many books to Oxford University. He was also a soldier who fought at the battle of Agincourt.
	The Nave Screen Martyr Statues, St Albans Cathedral Julia Low and Ailsa Herbert, eds 2016 \| 28pp \| ISBN 978-0-9506829-0-7 Price £4.50, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. Seven new statues by Rory Young were installed on the nave screen in 2015. This book explains why the statues were commissioned and tells the stories of the martyrs represented on the screen. It also outlines how the statues were created.
	St Albans: Cathedral and Abbey Martin Biddle et al 2nd edition 2015 \| 128pp \| Published by Scala ISBN 978-1-85759-976-3 Price £9.95, plus £3.50 for postage and packing. This lavishly illustrated book tells the story of the Abbey from Alban to the present; from the earliest evidence of Romano-British Christianity to the imposing and much-loved building that we see today, which was raised to cathedral status in 1877. The text, written by experts in their fields, illuminates not only the building and its history but also the story of St Alban and shows how Alban is still commemorated here today.
	The Organs and Musicians of St Albans Cathedral Andrew Lucas 2009 \| 50pp \| ISBN 978-0-9502514-5-5 Price £6.95, plus £2 for postage and packing. Drawing extensively on Peter Hurford’s history of the organs of St Albans Abbey, this publication also has much additional and fascinating material, including a chapter on the restoration completed in 2009. Short biographies of many previous Organists and Masters of the Music also feature.
	A Short Graffiti Tour of St Albans Abbey Michael Rose, Gail Thomas and Joyce Wells 3rd edition 2014 \| 20pp \| ISBN 978-0-9506829-3-8 Price £2.95, plus £1.50 for postage and packing. This book will guide you on a tour of some of the Cathedral’s most interesting and accessible graffiti.