St Albans Cathedral

The site of the present St Albans Cathedral is reputed to have been where Alban, the first Christian martyr in England, was executed around cAD209, and there has been continuous worship on this spot from as early as the 5th century. In AD793, a Benedictine monastery was founded by King Offa of Mercia but the simple timber-framed buildings erected by the Saxons were eventually replaced by the grand, Norman church seen today. Prior to the Norman invasion, much building material had been collected from the nearby Roman town of 'Verulamium' - long since abandoned - and this was incorporated in the new abbey church. Even today, it is possible to see the Roman tiles used in the 7ft (2.1m) thick walls of the Tower.

Throughout its monastic life, St Albans Cathedral enjoyed a stable and wealthy existence, was very influential, and was noted for its succession of great abbots, literary scholars and artistic craftsmen. Early in the 13th century there were believed to be some 100 monks and 300 lay brethren in residence, implying that it was the most important Benedictine house in the country. The abbey was dissolved in 1539, all the monastic buildings being destroyed, and the church was sold to the local community in 1553 for use as their parish church. However, funds were limited for the upkeep and essential maintenance works required on this old building, and it eventually deteriorated to such an extent that, by the early 19th century, only the east end of the church was still in use.

Slowly the church was restored, and became a cathedral in 1877, which helped to accummulate more necessary funds for the building works required. Lord Grimthorpe was responsible for much of the controversial restoration and rebuilding programme in the late 19th century, which included the replacement of the beautiful west front. Despite the mishaps and controversies, St Albans Cathedral remains an impressive monument to its illustrious past. From West to East, the church extends some 550ft, (167m) with the longest Nave in the country displaying the bold splendour of Norman architecture, and containing many fabulous sculptures, medieval wall paintings, decorated ceilings and ornate chapels.

St Albans Cathedral today also has one very unusual addition - a 20th century Chapter House. A decision was taken to rebuild the Chapter House, close to its original site, in the late 1970s and by 1982 the building was completed. Although a modern building, great care was taken to follow the plan of 1077, even to the extent of using handmade red bricks that would blend with the Roman tiles, and creating an apsidal east end just like the original Chapter House.