Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
St Albans Cathedral
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Donate
Menu
  • Worship
    • Ways to Worship
    • Monthly Service & Music List
    • Pilgrimage
    • Life Events
    • People
  • Visit
    • Your Visit
    • How to Find Us
    • Shop and CafĂ©
    • Tours and Trails
    • Group Visits
    • What else can I do in the area?
  • What's on
    • All Events
    • What's On Guide
    • How to Book Tickets
    • Join our Mailing List
    • My Account
  • Learning
    • Schools
    • Adult Learning
    • Library and Archives
    • Learn With Us Blog
    • Support Our Learning
  • Music
    • Choirs and Music
    • Music Department
    • Organ
    • Visiting Choirs
    • Support Our Music
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Volunteering
    • The Friends
    • Become a Patron
    • Our Supporters
  • Discover
    • Our History
    • Our Values
    • How We Work
    • News
    • Job Vacancies
    • Safeguarding
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • The History of St Albans Cathedral
  1. Discover
  2. Our History

The History of St Albans Cathedral

The Story of St Albans Cathedral

The story of St Albans Cathedral is one of change and continuity spanning centuries, from a small church to a great Cathedral.

A beautiful church worthy of Alban's martyrdom was built, where sick folk are healed and frequent miracles take place to this day.
- The Venerable Bede, Anglo-Saxon historian, 731

Ever Changing, Ever Growing

Little is known of the early churches built over Alban’s grave. The Shrine of St Alban was the reason for the Abbey’s foundation and the town that grew up around it, and it is said that King Offa of Mercia founded a monastery here in 793.

After the Norman invasion of 1066, William the Conqueror appointed Paul of Caen as the first Norman abbot of St Albans and commissioned a new church. Paul started his great rebuilding of the Abbey with the Tower, which still stands today. This Norman church was built from bricks and tiles saved from the ruins of Roman Verulamium. This ambitious project was completed in 1115, under the rule of Abbot Richard d’Albini.

The only English pope, Adrian IV, was born locally and granted special privileges to the Abbey, enhancing its reputation and power.

In 1213 St Albans Abbey was the meeting place for a group of churchmen and nobles. Their discussions led to Magna Carta which was reluctantly sealed by the king at Runnymede in 1215.

Living and Learning

The medieval Abbey was famous as a place of learning. The monks who lived here produced high-quality manuscripts in a workshop called the scriptorium. These included bibles and books on science, music and classics.

Into great carts went silver basins, candlesticks, statues of the saints, precious stone and altar cloths. All sorts of treasure was thrown in just like rubbish.
- Robert Shrimpton, an eye witness to the Abbey's closure in 1539

St Albans Abbey was closed in December 1539 and most of the buildings were destroyed. The shrines of St Alban and St Amphibalus were demolished and Alban’s relics disappeared.

In 1553, the people of St Albans bought the church for their own use. However, the upkeep was expensive and by 1832, the Abbey was in a sorry state.

Wealthy Victorian benefactors paid for the building to be repaired. This included remodelling the West End, removing medieval features and replacing the statues in the High Altar Screen.

In 1877 what had previously been a local parish church became a cathedral and the seat of the Bishop of St Albans.

This Cathedral is very much a living Church and continues to grow. Help us keep this amazing story alive.

Donate here

Published: 9th April, 2019

Updated: 27th May, 2021

Author: Helena OSullivan

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • In a Strange Land Concert

    In a Strange Land Concert

    St Albans Cathedral Education Trust hosted their first concert in the Cathedral

  • 20's and 30's Group | Prepare for Lent

    Join Rev'd Charlotte Bradley for an open discussion as we prepare for Lent.

  • 20s and 30s Group | Curry and Compline

    Curry and Compline, for those in their 20s and 30s

  • Curry and Compline

    Curry and Compline

    Sundays 26 February - 26 March | A group for 20s and 30s on Sundays during Lent.

Related

  • The Alban Bun

    The Alban Bun

    Find out more about the precursor to the Hot Cross Bun and its origins at St Albans Abbey.

  • The Story of Alban

    The Story of Alban

    A remarkable story of standing up for what you believe in which takes us back to the beginning of the Christian faith in Britain.

Most read

  • Basket checkout

  • We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

    We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

    Special services will be taking place at St Albans Cathedral to pray, mark her death and commemorate her life.

  • Live Streaming

    Live Streaming

    We are a worshipping community, united by prayer in the Spirit. Wherever you are we invite you to tune into one of our live streamed services.

  • Visitor Information

    Visitor Information

    We are open daily from 8.30am -5.30pm. Entry is free.

  • Regular Services

    Regular Services

    All are welcome to attend our weekly services, visit the Cathedral for private prayer and to light a candle.

  • The Story of Alban

    The Story of Alban

    A remarkable story of standing up for what you believe in which takes us back to the beginning of the Christian faith in Britain.

  • My account

    Log into your account to book tickets for events at St Albans Cathedral, view tickets that you have already bought or reset your password.

  • How to find us

    How to find us

    Everything you need to know about travelling to St Albans.

  • Abbot's Kitchen

    Abbot's Kitchen

    The Abbot's Kitchen is open daily, 10am - 4pm

  • Ministry Team

    Ministry Team

    Meet the clergy team here at St Albans Cathedral.

Join our mailing list
Be the first to hear about exciting events, activities and talks, straight to your inbox.

Useful links

  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Safeguarding
  • Job Vacancies
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy policy
  • Admin login
  • My details
  • Log out

St Albans Cathedral

Cathedral Office: 01727 890210

[email protected]

St Albans Cathedral
Sumpter Yard
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 1BY

© Copyright 2019 The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban. All rights reserved.