Our celebration of 40 years of Ecumenical Chaplaincy at St Albans Cathedral continued this Sunday as the Bishop of St Albans, The Rt Revd Alan Smith, led our celebrations marking this historic anniversary and unique gift, and recommitting to our ecumenical work.

At Choral Evensong on Sunday, sung by the Cathedral Girls Choir, Bishop Alan was joined by all our Ecumenical Chaplains for this service of recommitment promoting unity, peace and love among all Christian people. 

It was 40 years ago at Sunday evensong in 1983 that Bishop John Taylor welcomed the Revd Donald Lee and Fr Robert Plourde as Free Church and Ecumenical Chaplains of St Albans Cathedral. This was followed by the first of regular services in each of these traditions which continue to this day. Alongside this our German Lutheran congregation celebrates its own 50th anniversary this year, and in 1998 a regular Orthodox Liturgy was added to our range of services. 

This ecumenical work remains unique and is a cause of great celebration. We pray that this precious gift may continue to be a sign and instrument of that greater unity to which our Lord is calling the whole Church of God.

Ecumenical Chaplains

The Revd Simon Carver, Free Church Ecumenical Chaplain

Pfarrerin Silke Halfmann, German Lutheran Ecumenical Chaplain

The Revd Monsignor Harry Turner, Roman Catholic Ecumenical Chaplain

Fr Theophan Willis, Orthodox Ecumenical Chaplain