Where it all began:
Our church is named after Saint Alban. We are proud to inform you that Saint Alban is one of the first recorded British Christian martyrs. This is a great honor, as at the time religious freedom was forbidden and Christians began to suffer cruel persecution for their believes. Alban was from Roman Britain (parts of Britain under Roman control) and lived in the area of Verulamium in the 3rd Century.
One day Alban was approached by a stranger, that was fleeing persecutors and needed sheltered. Looking to help this man, Alban took him into his home and kept him safe. The man that Alban had helped, turned out to be a Christian priest called Amphibalus. While Alban and Amphilbalus was in Alban’s care, Alban was so impressed with his faith that he asked to be shown the ways of Christianity which Amphilbalus did without question.
It was then brought to the attention of the prince that a man was sheltering a priest and so they when to search Alban’s house. On the arrival of the Roman soldiers, Alban not wanting the priest to be found, dressed in his clothes and presented himself as Amphilbalus. Alban was brought before a judge and told them; he has taken the priest’s place. This angered the judge and so Alban was sentenced to endure all the punishments that were to be inflicted upon the priest, unless he would comply with their religion. Alban refused, and declared, “I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things.”
The judge ordered for Alban to be whipped and so to change his heart and mind however Alban didn’t faulter and bore these punishments with patiently and joyfully. The judge had seen enough and knew Alban’s faith would not be tested so gave the order for him to be behanded. Alban was led to be executed by a fast-flowing river that could not be crossed other than by the bridge that was clogged by townspeople. Due to this the execution party could not cross. Alban raised his eyes to heaven, and the river dried up, allowing Alban and his captors to cross over on dry land. The astonished executioner cast down his sword and fell at Alban’s feet, moved by divine inspiration and praying that he might either suffer with Alban or be executed for him. Alban continued to the top of the hill and another executioner followed. Alban stopped to pray to God and to give him water. A spring immediately sprang up at his feet. It was there that his head was struck off, as well as the head of the first Roman soldier who was miraculously converted and refused to execute him.