Book Description

St Albans Abbey is one of Britain's earliest Christian foundations and commemorates Britain's first Christian martyr, the Romano-British saint Alban, who was executed in about AD 300. For more than 1700 years people have gathered and worshipped on this site. St Albans: Cathedral and Abbey, produced to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Friends of St Alban's Abbey in 2009, tells the story of the Abbey from Alban to the present day. The imposing and much-loved building that we see today was built as an abbey in the Norman era and raised to cathedral status in 1877. The text is lavishly illustrated with a wonderful series of specially commissioned photographs taken by St Albans-based photographer Donato Cinicolo, who had had access to all parts of the site and captured its many events and its changing moods throughout the year. The book's six chapters are all by specialists in their fields. Martin Biddle and Birthe Kjølbye-Biddle tell the story of Alban, his cult and the shrines associated with it, based on their excavations and on recent research. Canon Iain Lane reflects on pilgrimage to the Abbey through the ages. John McNeill surveys the monastic buildings and their architecture, while James Clark focuses on the cultural and spiritual life of the monastery, and above all its tradition of manuscript production. Jane Kelsall tells the Abbey story from its dissolution under Henry VIII to its controversial restoration in the nineteenth century. Finally the Dean celebrates and reflects on the variety and vitality of life in the Abbey today. St Albans: Cathedral and Abbey is a celebration, in words and pictures, of the unique St Albans story, capturing the essence of this memorable place. AUTHOR: Professor Martin Biddle FBA, is the Cathedral Archaeological Consultant and a member of the Fabric Advisory Committee. With his wife Magister Birthe Kjolbye-Biddle, he has directed all archaeological excavations at St Alban's Abbey since 1978. Together they have led archaeological investigations at Winchester, Repton, Qasr Ibrim in Nubia and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Donato Cinicolo is a professional photographer who has lived within the sound of the Abbey bells for over 40 years. Dr James Clark is Senior Lecturer in Later Medieval History at the University of Bristol and he has written extensively on the medieval abbey of St Albans. Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey John is a distinguished theologian, preacher, teacher, writer and pastor. He became the Dean of St Albans in 2004. Jane Kelsall is a locally born art historian. A popular lecturer and an experienced Abbey Guide, she has written and contributed to many books and articles on the Abbey's history. Canon Iain Lane is a former Education Canon with responsibility for welcome at St Alban's Cathedral. He has lectured widely and currently teaches at the Christian Study centre in St Albans. John McNeill is Lecturer in the History of Medieval Architecture at Birkbeck College and Oxford University and a member of St Alban's Cathedral's Fabric Advisory Committee. 162 colour & 14 b/w illustrations