thousands of road miles and more than a few chicken and sausage dinners Eric and Donna Ripp checked the final church The Ripps’ mission to attend Mass at every parish in the Archdiocese of St Louis began after churches reopened from the COVID-19 pandemic closure in May 2020 temporarily was holding Mass in the gym to allow for more space between worshipers The couple couldn’t shake the feeling of being at their sons’ grade school basketball games so they decided to use it as an opportunity to visit other churches they went to Mass at Ascension in Chesterfield; the following week (Eric) gets this wild idea to download a spreadsheet of all the churches in the archdiocese let’s just see how many we can go to,’” Donna said “It got to be a mission — our own little mission from God.” Alban Roe is five minutes down the road from their home; the farthest parish for them The Ripps experienced God in new ways first through the beauty they saw in the churches themselves They’d attended Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis before they were most impressed by the hospitality of the people they met along the way Especially in small congregations — where newcomers are more noticeable — parishioners would greet them ask where they were from and welcome them to the parish the Ripps made it a point to spend time at the parish or the surrounding community to get to know the people Rather than checking off churches alphabetically and we would look at the sausage dinners or chicken dinners or pancake breakfasts and we would try to hit those churches,” Donna said (It’s hard to choose favorites from the array of delicious food they ate John the Baptist “Gildehaus” in Villa Ridge and the sausage dinner at St they happened to attend on the day of the parish children’s first holy Communion parishioners invited them to the celebratory reception afterward The Ripps told them they weren’t parishioners ‘We really do want you to come — everybody’s invited,’” Donna said The mission gave them a chance to experience Mass in other languages parishioners insisted they join them for lunch in the parish hall afterward and it was so good — it was a spread like you wouldn’t believe,” Donna said we just sat there and we made all these new friends.” The Ripps got to know many priests along the way often seeing priests at more than one parish over the course of the four years as they were reassigned or took on additional parishes They met Father Anthony Dattilo after Mass at St got to talking and took him out for dinner bonding over their shared Italian heritage they attended Mass with Father Dattilo at St and they brought along homemade Italian Christmas cookies “‘My mom used to make these!’ He was so excited,” Donna said After the All Things New parish reorganization announcement on Pentecost 2023 Eric cross-checked the list of parishes that would be subsumed with their spreadsheet of remaining churches The Ripps had 13 of those parishes left and nine weeks until the decrees went into effect Aug “so we doubled up and went to one Saturday night and one Sunday,” Eric said they took a photo of the altar and the cornerstone which ended up being a conversation starter — when the cornerstone was difficult to find parishioners often joined them to search for it The couple later turned their photo collection into a printed book showcasing the 188 churches alphabetically They also saved the bulletins from each church and keep them in four file folders organized chronologically by the date of their visit As they flipped through the photo book on their dining room table the couple recalled moments of God’s presence in each church: the Gospel music that invigorated them at St Bridget of Kildare in Pacific because they had a good conversation with Father Andrew Burkemper and the awe of learning about the miracles that took place in the Shrine of St Breaking out of their normal routine for four years gave the Ripps a “new appreciation of the Catholic faith and all the different churches that are out there,” Eric said the Ripps are enjoying their renewed routine of 9:30 a.m in the familiar church with the parishioners they’ve worshiped alongside since 1998 they carry with them a widened experience of the body of Christ when they get the itch to spend a Sunday elsewhere — they’ve got some pretty good ideas “There’s so many good people out there,” Donna said “It’s amazing how many good people there are.” All readers receive 5 stories to read free per month If you are currently receive the St. Louis Review at your home or office, please send your name and address (and subscriber id if you know it) to subscriptions@stlouisreview.com to get your login information If you are not currently a subscriber to the St. Louis Review, please contact subscriptions@stlouisreview.com for information on how to subscribe Discover the latest regional and national news and topics central to the Catholic faith with the St We strive to report on the news from within our archdiocese and throughout the world that is most meaningful and helpful to St We provide information for your Catholic formation to assist you in living the joy of the Gospel in the Archdiocese of St Albans as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames Reports of the fire came in about 10:15 p.m Friday night at ticket booth at Crawford Field The team had just wrapped up a game against Lincoln County Kanawha County officials released an emergency message that MacCorkle Avenue in the area was temporarily closed but has since reopened The cause of the fire is unknown at this time This story will be updated as more information is released This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page “The real gift of being an artist,” said Baltimore-born Kevin Kearney “I found my voice when I was 19,” said Kevin Kearney sitting in his office on a gray Saturday morning It’s true that like most successful artists Born in Baltimore to a working class family and it was through him that a love of making art was discovered at a very young age after attending the Maryland Institute College of Art while painting houses to pay his way he came to California in 1975 to study at UC Davis which at the time was the country’s second best graduate school for sculpture and painting “I came out west because I wanted to study with William Theophilus Brown Wayne Thiebaud and Paul Wonner,” Kearney recalled neglecting to mention that a painting of him by Theophilus Brown is in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art “I consider myself part of the same tradition that includes Titian and Edward Hopper – but all the great artists of my studies have influenced the work I’ve made over the last 55 years.” A “representational painter” who is classically trained in oil painting Kearney obtained his MFA magnum cum laude and then moved to San Francisco in 1976 where he lived and worked in the Dogpatch neighborhood A two-year teaching stint at Mills College in Oakland and other early successes were followed by lapses of momentum as the 20th century market for fine art began to narrow It’s not the sort of thing that – from what I hear through the art dealers I know – people are collecting in Northern California but probably as an artist I should have stayed in New York or gone to Europe.” citing the obligation he feels every artist has the real gift of being an artist is being an artist,” he said is to react to the world around us as honestly and as truthfully as we can I don’t think artists should pursue fame and fortune and if that happens because you have done what is really and truly honest – and are rewarded that way – then that’s fantastic But it can’t be what gets you out of your bed in the morning.” One artist who Kearney feels exemplifies this mentality is author Bernhard Schlink whose work includes “The Reader,” published in 1995 and made into a film in 2008 and with whom Kearney has been a close friend for over 40 years “He got very lucky in the early ’90s,” Kearney remembered He could have lived on in oblivion in Berlin though When Van Gogh painted in a field and it wasn’t until 20 years after he died that people really cared about it It was through Schlink that Kearney’s next lucky break came I received an email from a woman named Marlene Porsche who had seen one of my paintings at the house of my friend Bernhard It turned out that Marlene Porsche was not only one of the wealthier people in the world she had her own 150,000-square- foot museum in Switzerland Over the next five years she bought 25 of Kearney’s paintings and drawings even though he currently lacks any kind of formal representation in California As his “day job,” he runs a construction litigation consulting service with his son Since 2018 he’s maintained a studio and gallery space in the Burdell Building in Petaluma “I love that building and I love Petaluma,” he stated and have motivated me to paint.” Noting that he’s created around 45 paintings since relocating to the Burdell Building space “I love the artistic community I’ve found here too.” He’s named his ornate show-space The Saint Alban-Enfield Gallery which he describes as a 19th century salon He held a large opening party in October of last year but primarily shows his work there only by appointment “I hope to have another major showing somewhere else in California in the next year but the art world’s very fickle,” he said at one point he stopped painting for over a decade “I felt like it wasn’t important and I had other opportunities that were where it felt like I could really contribute.” He looked down at his hands and said including a memoir he’s been working on for 10 years “Girl With Lizard,” that he says is being shopped around Europe Noting that he’s never been a fast painter – “My paintings take anywhere from 100 to 600 hours to complete,” he estimated – Kearney feels he still has 100 paintings left in him It’s the drive to create that keeps a man alive essayist and freelance journalist whose work appears regularly in the Petaluma Argus-Courier Sign In Subscribe Now Hilda’s (Spences Bridge) will be running a study for those who are baptized or neither who are seeking to know more about their Christian faith The eight-week study is based upon the Apostle’s Creed and seeks to help us deepen our understanding of how these words — prayed over us at our baptism — come to life today For those who have experienced infant baptism this class will provide a way to take on ownership of the vows made for us this can provide a forum for understanding the vows that are made in baptism For those who wish to reaffirm or restate their earlier confirmation vows this class will allow for discussion about each other’s experiences living as Christians in this ever-changing world Together we answer God’s call with the response A one-hour introductory class will be held on Wednesday Alban’s Anglican Church hall (Ashcroft) to determine the best times and locations for the studies so that we can include those in both communities The hope is that we can utilize Zoom and record sessions for those who miss a class and have the classes alternating between St Please join us with your input, or reach out if you missed the first meeting but would like to take part. For more information contact Rev. Linda at St. Alban’s church at revlinda.stalbans@gmail.com Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines which replaced the "All Are Welcome Here" banner The conversation around downtown public safety continues in St officials provided a few updates on what they’ve been doing to curb drug crimes and tamp down on unwanted behaviors downtown ALBAN CITY — The conversation around downtown public safety continues in St After a well-attended meeting held earlier this month had people talking about starting up neighborhood watch groups, city councilor Trudy Cioffi said the kick-off meeting for her proposed group had 25 interested households show up in Ward 4. Meanwhile, the city’s public safety committee — comprised of councilors Trudy Cioffi, Marie Bessette, Newell Decker and Mayor Tim Smith —  continues to explore different aspects of the overarching problem. While the St. Albans Police Department has focused on confronting the criminal element, Cioffi said council’s ad hoc group is trying to learn more about the wider social aspect behind the downtown problem. “I think the more we can learn, the better equipped we’ll be to try to impact some change,” Cioffi said. Those discussions include conversations with service providers trying to confront the difficulties affecting populations with substance addictions. Cioffi said the group is also looking to start a conversation with the Department of Corrections after hearing that people were being dropped off post-release at major shopping centers, like Highgate Commons. Cioffi said she’s also been involved  in trying to confront the city’s needle problem, by literally cleaning up the streets with a dedicated group. “We’ve been finding a lot of litter, not a lot of actual needles. Over the past month and a half or so that we’ve been doing it, maybe 20? Which is 20 too many, but it’s not hundreds upon hundreds,” Cioffi said. Public works director Marty Manahan recommended they continue to take close looks at the city’s parks — Bartlow, Houghton and Taylor — as well as concentrate around the courthouse parking lot and the central area around the parking garage. “The garbage and cigarette butts are what I’ve noticed to be just out of control in the city,” she added. When St. Albans police started tracking the people with the highest number of contacts with police officers, Jenny Pecor made the shortlist. City officials cited her arrest and resulting imprisonment earlier this month as progress against repeat car thefts. Then, a state nonprofit — the Vermont Freedom Fund — paid her $2,000 bail to release her back into the community this past week. St. Albans Mayor Tim Smith named the organization Monday night. “There’s many factions against us as we try to move to make this city a safer place, and I would say the Vermont Freedom Fund is one of those,” he said. Freedom Fund steering committee member Lisa Barrett said her organization operates on the idea that “bail isn’t supposed to be abused.” “(Pecor) is a member of the community,” Barrett said. “We post bail when people don’t have money to post it themselves. It’s that simple.” If Pecor had been a greater risk to the community, Vermont’s courts could have made that determination, she said. “No matter what happens, if she goes to jail, she’s going to be released,” Barrett said. “Communities need to take care of each other, or she’s going to end up back there.” Following Pecor’s release, St. Albans Police Department arrested her the next day after she was spotted on video cameras allegedly stealing from residences on Maquam Shore Road. Pecor has had 14 pending court cases in recent weeks and was named a person of interest in 27 additional cases. “The Vermont Freedom Fund we can thank for their bailing out folks and impacting what we’re trying to do as a community, which is get back to some source of security in terms of our residences,” Smith said Monday night. After flying near city hall for close to four years, St. Albans City’s “All Are Welcome Here” banner has been replaced with an understated replacement that now reads “Welcome.” City Manager Dominic Cloud said he replaced the banner earlier this month as part of his duties to reflect city council’s priorities. The change, however, spurred a counter-reaction from people worried the city has turned its back on a vision set forward four years ago, when the banner was first created and the statement first adopted by the city as a related brand attached to its inclusion efforts. Stickers and car decals, for example, were also made to be sold alongside the new banner statement. “The ‘All Are Welcome Here’ message is part of the City’s efforts to respond to community member input, create a sense of belonging, and counter exclusionary speech with welcoming speech,” the city’s website reads. Much has happened since, including some turnover of the Belonging, Equity and Inclusion Committee since it was established three years ago. Carl Watkins and Moira Jamieson-Brooks are currently the co-chairs. “We recognize the need to address public safety and work toward those goals, but it should not come at the expense of marginalized groups. Removing symbols of inclusion is not the answer,” Watkins said in a joint statement released by the group. During Monday night’s meeting, Councilor Erik Johnson echoed the point with his own statement after hearing from his constituents. “They’re more than just words, it’s a reminder of the community that we’re trying to build and to support each other,” Johnson said. Cloud said it was not his intention when changing the banner to counter the inclusionary efforts of the BEI committee. Instead, it was likely a blindspot about what the statement has come to mean for the wider community. “The banner hangs outside my window, and every day we get calls and emails from people that are telling us, pleading with us frankly, to not allow the city to be overrun by dealers, addicts and thieves,” Cloud told the Messenger. “All Are Welcome Here,” as a statement, had also been panned when first introduced because of its connection to a liturgical hymn, Cloud said. As for the banner’s future, the city’s approach is still being determined. Cloud said he didn’t anticipate the reaction from changing the banner, but he’s open to having the conversation. The agenda for next month’s council meeting still needs to be created. “I think if you are from a marginalized group, what you see is ‘maybe it’s me, maybe I’m not welcome anymore. Maybe it’s not everybody that gets that perspective. So I think it warrants more conversation,” Cioffi said Monday night. “It’s important for those that are involved with the equity inclusion movement to know that it was not directed toward them in any measure,” Cloud said. In the meantime, Cloud emphasized there’s a lot of work that still needs to be done. Getting any organization up and running at full capacity takes time, and bringing on new police officers from today’s workforce often requires a year of training before they’re ready to go. Illegal drug markets, too, take careful concerted efforts to dig up and displace. “The common thread I see in all of it is drugs,” Cloud said. “That takes some runway to bend the curve.” After talking about public safety from multiple angles Monday night, councilor Chad Boudreau followed up about motorcyclists zipping around residential neighborhoods in the middle of the night. After calling police about the disturbance, SAPD were too busy to arrive in time to tackle the issue, he said. In response, Cloud said SAPD is making progress on the overall problem, and there’s still more work to be done. But for right now, everyone at city hall is working hard to address it. “Everything that we’re trying to do here — from the forthcoming nuisance property ordinance to all the proactive work that Trudy has been doing — is we’re trying to get the place under control, right? And it’s not right now … It’s going to take a year to get it under control, and we’re a quarter of the way into that year,” Cloud said.  “We all feel the frustration. We’re all drinking from a firehose. We’re all watching everything that we’ve built slowly seep away, right?” “We, as the BEI Committee, agree that removing the "All Are Welcome Here" banner will not affect the city's crime rate. Local police reports show that most offenses are committed by residents within our own community. I can almost assure you that criminals aren't looking for a welcome sign to find a location to commit offenses. The removal of the words "All Are" from the banner primarily impacts marginalized groups who are underrepresented in our city's demographic. While crime has risen in Franklin County, property crimes increased by 10.6% from 2021 to 2022​, this is still better than the national increase of 14.5% during the same period​, showing that our community is doing better than many other areas across the country. This rise in crime is part of a larger trend and is not related to the presence or removal of a symbolic banner. The decision to remove the largest symbol of Belonging, Equity, and Inclusion in our city, without consultation, notice, or clear reasoning, is disheartening. It sends a message that we are not progressing in making our community more inclusive for marginalized groups. On a personal level, as a Black man and member of the LGBTQ+, I initially felt welcome in this community. However, over time, certain groups have unfairly stereotyped individuals, creating an inaccurate narrative. I have personally experienced changes in how my family and I are perceived and treated, even by some city staff members. We recognize the need to address public safety and work toward those goals, but it should not come at the expense of marginalized groups. Removing symbols of inclusion is not the answer.” Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Get a selection of the Messenger's best reporting direct to your inbox each and every morning. St Albans Messenger is a weekly newspaper established in 1861 covering Franklin County, Vermont. Samessenger.com publishes new content daily. Our beat reporters are on the ground covering local government, schools, sports, business and culture. Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Home The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Albans is one of the oldest churches in Britain — and quite possibly the very oldest — but no building survives through hundreds of generations without change John Goodall examines some of the recent changes made to highlight the saints associated with this ancient church Photographs by Paul Highnam and John Goodall for Country Life a grand procession conveyed a collection of bones exhumed from a burial mound at Redbourn to the great Benedictine Abbey of St Albans three miles away Among them were supposedly the remains of a cleric who had been saved from persecution by the bravery of the abbey’s eponymous saint in the late Roman period As described in the previous article early accounts of Alban’s execution outside the walls of Verulamium offer no record of the cleric’s name or subsequent story he became Amphibalus — or ‘cloak’ — the word borrowed from an item of his clothing mentioned in a 6th-century narrative of Alban’s martyrdom An exemplary restoration project has now given Amphibalus physical presence within this church once again The procession of 1178 followed hard on the feast of Alban’s martyrdom on June 22 It was also connected to an account of the life of St Alban — masquerading as a Latin translation of an ancient British text — recently composed by a member of the monastic community called William Amphibalus fled to Wales and was followed by 999 citizens of Verulamium who had been converted to Christianity by his preaching but Amphibalus was bound in chains and brought back to the city he was executed by being forced to walk around a post to which his intestines had been nailed (Fig 1) A further butchery of Christians followed and ‘to be brought to light at some time or other — by divine action as we may believe’ William’s words read as preparation for precisely that discovery The likelihood is that the bones conveyed to St Albans Abbey in 1178 actually came from an Anglo-Saxon burial These often contain multiple burials with weapons which would explain why Amphibalus’s remains were found — according to the 13th-century historian of St Albans Matthew Paris — with two iron knives ‘one in the skull another in the heart’ the relics were gathered together in a casket overlaid in silver and gold and bearing images of Amphibalus’s martyrdom This was placed to the north of Alban’s shrine behind the high altar the casket was moved to the nave altar in front of the rood screen where it was enclosed by an iron railing and elevated on a slab supported by columns a conventional arrangement for shrines in this period The collapse of the south nave aisle in 1323 damaged this structure and the rood screen but the relic casket miraculously survived and was moved back to the area of Alban’s shrine behind the high altar commissioned a new and elaborate stone pedestal base for it After the manner of St Alban’s shrine which had been sumptuously renewed in Purbeck marble by 1308 (and was itself restored to its present condition in the early 1990s) the pedestal was conceived as a miniature work of architecture There were recesses on each face of the structure for pilgrims to kneel in close proximity to the relics above and panels of patterned decoration These included the sacrist’s initials and the name Amphibalus The pedestal cost £8 18s 10d and was on the central axis of the church between St Alban’s chapel and the eastern Lady Chapel On the ceiling above it was a large depiction of the Assumption of the Virgin when the bones were discarded and the pedestal together with that of St Alban’s shrine Some were used to build an internal wall that created a dividing corridor between the church and the Lady Chapel (which became a grammar school) when the wall was dismantled and the shrine fragments discovered Micklethwaite to reassemble the thousands of pieces they found with attention understandably focused on the Purbeck-marble shrine pedestal of St Alban That of Amphibalus was less completely reconstructed and was eventually left as a rather unsightly mass of masonry pieced out with industrial brick and pushed against a radiator in the north choir aisle English medieval shrine bases are a rarity and the substantial remains of only eight comparable examples are known today including that of Birinus at Dorchester-on-Thames and Edward the Confessor at Westminster Abbey in London A symposium on the pedestal of Amphibalus in 2004 recommended that it be restored and this vision was taken up by the then Dean He described the shrine base in a report of 2015 as notable ‘not merely as an important medieval artefact but also as a contemporary source of inspiration and focus of devotion… [Amphibalus] is a symbol but of specific Christian themes of witness education and catechesis — for all of which his shrine could be a focus’ was planned and informed by a number of specialists including the cathedral architects Richard Griffiths and Kelley Christ archaeologists Martin Biddle and Jackie Hall and architectural historians Richard K there was a search for additional pieces of the pedestal that had come to light since its first restoration were examined by the Perry Lithgow Partnership the fragments of which were held together with cement mortar and iron cramps Large missing elements of the structure were pieced out with newly carved masonry The Totternhoe Stone of the original is no longer quarried but some old blocks were fortuitously located in a building yard in Cambridge were built up in carefully matched lime mortars One particular problem was the loss of all the bases and capitals which meant that an informed guess had to be made as to the diameter of the new Purbeck shafts that flank the recesses Work to the reconstruction of the shrine in the Chapel of Four Tapers at the east end of the south aisle began in 2020 on a low plinth This date appears in one of the new panels and one of the newly carved grotesques wears a mask (Fig 4) The structure is held together with stainless-steel dowels set in polyester the Royal School of Needlework was commissioned to make a canopy for the pedestal that would stand in place of the long-lost casket (Fig 2) the artist Peter Murphy was commissioned to paint a series of icons representing the story of Amphibalus’s martyrdom which fill the surrounding chapel arcade (Fig 3) The shrine’s reconstruction is one of four recent changes to the interior of the church The other is the installation within the rood screen of seven statues of Christian martyrs — ancient as well as modern and from different denominations — by the sculptor Rory Young (Fig 6) These figures were developed over five years and consecrated in 2015 The rood screen was rebuilt in its present form following the collapse of the south-nave aisle in 1323 and its central altar and statuary were stripped away at the Reformation In the present configuration of the church the screen serves as the backdrop to the nave altar Alban himself stands in the centre holding his executioner’s sword and a distinctive cross A cross of this kind — probably a Coptic one acquired as a relic — is first shown in the 13th-century illustrations of the saint’s life drawn by Paris To Alban’s left is Amphibalus and to his right George Tankerfield a cook burnt to death outside the west front of the church for his Protestant faith in 1555 a Benedictine monk and priest who was imprisoned in the abbey gatehouse and hung To the sides are modern martyrs of different denominations: Archbishop Oscar Romero who was shot in El Salvador in 1980; Elizabeth Romanova of the Russian royal family who became an abbess and was murdered in 1918 and Dietrich Bonhoeffer the Lutheran pastor and Nazi dissenter killed in Flossenburg concentration camp in 1945 Following the completion of the rood-screen sculpture another project was begun in 2015 to help interpret the medieval wall paintings on the piers of the nave (Fig 7) These were originally associated with the parish church that was attached to the north side of the abbey until the Reformation With the help of art historian Michael Michael and an illustrator from the British museum the original details of these fragmentary schemes were reconstructed turned the reconstructions into projections that enable visitors to understand the form of the original paintings more clearly (Fig 8) The success of this undertaking has informed another illumination scheme which focuses on one of the most remarkable medieval furnishings in the church Abbot William Wallingford paid for a new reredos behind the high altar This took the form of a huge screen of sculpture a treatment popular in England from the 14th century The imagery it contained was stripped out and destroyed at the Reformation soon after the elevation of St Albans to the status of a cathedral The lawyer and amateur architect Sir Edmund Beckett who had assumed control of the restoration of the whole building in the 1870s although he failed to prevent new figures for the screen being commissioned from the prolific ecclesiastical sculptor Harry Hems the same year Gibbs and Beckett entered into a nine-year legal battle — which the latter ultimately lost — over the reinstatement of a central crucifix in the reredos it is the quantity of Hems’s sculpture The one notable element of the restored screen is the figure of the resurrected Christ above the altar by Alfred Gilbert It inhabits a different aesthetic world from the remainder of the screen sculpture and incorporates mother of pearl and crystal Using a scan of the whole reredos and in partnership with the agency Hogarth colour can now be projected onto the whole composition of the screen (Fig 5) It is another way that the cathedral has sought to animate the images of saints that both lie at the foundation of its history and preside over its modern life Visit www.stalbans.org Fiona Reynolds explores the ancient city of St Albans to discover how its cathedral connects with the people and geography A church built for Britain’s first known Christian martyr developed into The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Albans John Goodall examines the architectural development of Lincoln’s Inn from the late 17th century The setting of Charles III’s crowning in Westminster Abbey in London lends grandeur and history to this great ceremony John GoodallArchitectural EditorJohn spent his childhood in Kenya India and Yorkshire before joining Country Life in 2007 Known for his irrepressible love of castles and the Frozen soundtrack and a laugh that lights up the lives of those around him John also moonlights as a walking encyclopedia and is the author of several books (WCHS) — The historic train depot at the corner of Fourth Street and Fourth Avenue in St Albans may seem out of place among it's more modern neighbors Many people may have never given it a second thought but the structure houses a lot of local history Built in 1907 by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway it was once a major hub along the only route between the Chesapeake Bay and the Ohio River Albans was a strategic place because of it's location at the intersection of the Coal River and the Kanawha River," said Mark Totten the President and CEO of the C&O Historical Society You also had coal fields that could be accessed by way of the Coal River." Albans a major hub for people and commerce The rail line running beside the depot is still very active but the building has now been converted into a rail museum by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Historical Society The main waiting room is slowly being transformed back into what it once was an ornate 1940s spot for passengers to purchase tickets and wait for their trains to arrive The far eastern room now houses an elaborate and working model train layout of St Albans and the Kanawha Valley during it's chemical plant heyday "It's a draw for people of all ages to come to the building," Totten said "So many members of the public love to see the trains go around the layout that alone gets a lot of bodies through the door." The annual Train Day Festival is scheduled for Saturday The depot is also open year round every Saturday for visitors at no charge The community has welcomed the preservation of the historic depot with open arms city council and everyone in the community have been nothing but welcoming to us," Totten said "They are thrilled to death that we're doing something with the building and showcasing and telling the story of transportation history in western Kanawha County." Participants of The Alban Way 2024 have celebrated the end of their year-long journey with a commissioning service at St Albans Cathedral equips young adults to grow in faith and leadership Highlights included reflections on their transformative Camino de Santiago pilgrimage Applications for The Alban Way 2025 are now open the 2024 cohort of The Alban Way celebrated the end of their year-long journey with a commissioning service at St Albans Cathedral The Alban Way is a programme designed for 18 to 35-year-olds who want to grow in their faith and leadership It’s not just about learning—it’s about putting faith into practice and forming a supportive community along the way participants explore their relationship with Jesus more fully seeking purpose and direction in their lives This commissioning service was a time to celebrate the year gone by to reflect on the transformation that’s taken place together with Archdeacon Janet and the Growing Younger and More Diverse Team prayer and reflections from the participants themselves A highlight of the year was the group’s October pilgrimage to the Camino de Santiago where participants and leaders embarked on a life-changing adventure Archdeacon Dave spoke about the importance of following the signs and seeking the right path—both on the Camino and in life he reminded participants to look for God’s direction amidst life’s challenges and trust Him to guide their way: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths Bishop Jane and Bishop Richard formally commissioned the group presenting each participant with a Camino coin to symbolise their journey and the faith they’ve built along the way Archdeacon Janet was also present to offer encouragement and support further underscoring the sense of community that The Alban Way fosters The celebration didn’t stop there—everyone came together afterwards to share a meal The next Alban Way starts in February 2025 and there are still a few places available participants can choose from two pilgrimage experiences: If you’re aged 18 to 35 and want to grow in faith and leadership while connecting with a like-minded community, visit The Alban Way website to learn more and apply For those who’ve completed The Alban Way 2024 we pray that the lessons and relationships from this year will carry you forward May you walk the path God has laid before you with faith knowing He is with you every step of the way BURLINGTON — Andrew Brace was caught and arrested yesterday after running from police for weeks according to a July 15 press release from the U.S Police referred to Brace as “extremely dangerous,” after he eluded them several times — he’d been on the run since his first escape, during which officials say he dragged a police officer dangling from a stolen car nearly 50 feet on Conquest Circle in Colchester evaded officers again following a police pursuit in Washington and last week he was spotted in Northwestern Vermont when he caused problems for local officers Brace nearly caused multiple vehicle crashes and allegedly tried to force police vehicles off the road after officers tried to apprehend him last Tuesday he had abandoned the vehicle he was driving – a stolen Ford-250 – in Winooski after having spent the first half of the day avoiding police in Swanton Monday’s arrest follows multiple aggravated assaults with weapons charges aggravated vehicle operation without owners’ consent eluding law enforcement in a negligent manner leaving the scene of a crash and petit larceny Brace’s arrest was a culmination of investigative efforts by the U.S Vermont Fish and Game and Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles investigators Brace is being held in the Northwest State Correctional Center awaiting his arraignment, according to the Vermont Department of Corrections Offender Locator website Get a selection of the Messenger's best reporting direct to your inbox each and every morning St Albans Messenger is a weekly newspaper established in 1861 covering Franklin County Samessenger.com publishes new content daily Our beat reporters are on the ground covering local government Venue offers a 1600 square metre track with a 12-kart capacity BattleKart, an experience that combines a physical driving experience with dynamic AR projection mapping has announced the launch of BattleKart London St Albans The new centre will open to the public on Friday 29 November. The life-size video game console experience can be found close to London and just 25 minutes from Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter BattleKart London St Albans will be open seven days a week It offers an Exhibition Park with a 1600 square metre track that can accommodate up to 12 karts A raised lounge area provides audiences with a view of the games being played The venue also offers free WiFi and a snack bar featuring local produce BattleKart was founded by Sébastien Millecam it has welcomed more than one million players and is now available at over 30 franchise locations in Europe The London St Albans location is operated by Yoann Michel and Ozan Ozturk Michel is an experienced BattleKart franchisee and has launched three successful locations in France BattleKart Dubai launched in June 2024 and is one of the most advanced BattleKart locations to date This location features Panasonic VMZ projectors that create vibrant visuals across the 2,300 sqm playground and walls in addition to a modern lounge bar with panoramic views and full air conditioning The company’s collaboration with Panasonic was recognised in the Integrated Systems Europe 2024 awards where they were honoured in the AV Project of the Year category Recently, BattleKart announced the worldwide launch of its new BattleColor game mode. The environment and atmosphere now have a Disco theme, and the track has become a massive dance floor where players light up as many squares as possible to win the game.    Get the latest attractions industry
 news direct to your inbox, 
every day. Blooloop is taking climate action and is now B Corp Certified. Photo by Roman Vigouroux and courtesy the Archives of the Tosquelles Family The psychiatrist François Tosquelles with a sculpture by his patient Auguste Forestier is a writer and artist based in the UK. Between 2013 and 2016, he led Who Are You Now?, a life-writing project that published the stories of brain-injury survivors. His memoir Tell Me the Planets was published in 2018 Edited bySally Davies 22 commentsSaveSYNDICATE THIS ESSAY 22 CommentsEmailSavePostShareOver the course of the Second World War approximately 45,000 psychiatric patients died of starvation and disease in France imprisoned in hospitals that were supposed to care for them one psychiatrist was interviewed by a newspaper about what he had witnessed during that time: There was one hospital that defied the catastrophe when the national mortality rate for psychiatric patients had tripled and around the time when some institutions were losing more than 40 per cent of their population had a death rate of less than 10 per cent – and no deaths from malnutrition the Second World War seemed far removed from my experience I was taught that fascism had been defeated But a different picture emerged in my mid-20s when I moved to east London and began working in a community for people marginalised because of neurological disabilities I witnessed startling poverty and exclusion and civic systems that seemed on the brink of collapse I supported clients through relentless benefits assessments with state employees who appeared trapped in the role of hostile gatekeepers I attended medical appointments with doctors who behaved like automata hurriedly citing the ‘evidence base’ and leaving my clients to make life-or-death decisions without specialist support that I attended clients’ funerals when they died early Some of us involved in this work came to see political forces as the real and greater enemy – to realise that clients and staff alike were locked into logics from which we all needed to be emancipated There were always other priorities and the changes we needed were hard to identify I remember many times when I wished we had an example to learn from I came across the story of Saint-Alban too late for my work in London it felt like a message of hope tucked into a time capsule: this is what you were trying to do It shows us the roles that institutions can play in fighting or reinforcing everyday fascism and reveals how our attitudes towards madness are an index for our beliefs about human potential as a whole Saint-Alban possessed a number of practical advantages that helped it shield its residents during the war its rural location meant that it was close to sources of food while being at a greater remove from the scrutiny of the Vichy administration But if Saint-Alban benefitted from being overlooked Many patients slept on straw beds in locked cells Some occupied stables still used by livestock it was run by a combination of nuns and wardens with a single doctor ‘All I had been taught,’ Balvet would later comment Saint-Alban lost 36 staff members to the draft and its population grew to more than 850 as patients were displaced from hospitals being requisitioned elsewhere (We know that the Catholic sisterhood remained in residence and continued to play a central role have been difficult for me to locate.) In need of help Balvet approached the internment camp at Septfonds The camp had been established to accommodate political refugees fleeing the Franco regime after the Spanish Civil War and Balvet was pessimistic about finding anyone useful among all these ‘Reds’ and ‘criminals’ The 27-year-old Catalan François Tosquelles was one such ‘Red’ who was also a qualified psychiatrist He’d fought among the antifascist militias during the civil war and had run a psychiatric clinic for combatants on the battle front fleeing across the border after the collapse of the republic Tosquelles was running another clinic ‘in the mud’ A prewar photo of François Tosquelles (far left) with patients of the Pere Mata institute in Reus Photo courtesy the Archives of the Tosquelles Family ‘I learned half what I know about psychiatry from Tosquelles,’ Balvet would later say Tosquelles’s background had equipped him with a pragmatic attitude and a strong suspicion of authority I suspect it also gave him a clarity of vision that was lacking among his French counterparts at the time: unlike Balvet he already knew what fascism looked like at close quarters On Tosquelles’s arrival at Saint-Alban in January 1940 he and Balvet set about recruiting everyone at hand to the task of finding food Patients and workers alike were sent out into the surrounding villages and farms instructed to beg or barter for whatever they could They organised foraging lessons for the hospital community and worked out how to subvert the rationing system ‘There were special ration cards for TB patients,’ said Tosquelles so ‘when a guy showed signs of malnutrition we’d immediately diagnose him with tuberculosis’ The hospital was simultaneously housing vulnerable patients and hiding armed paramilitaries that the hospital soon started taking in even more mouths to feed Jews fleeing persecution were welcomed and cared for ‘Some of the patients began helping the refugees feeding them and so on,’ Tosquelles said later Balvet left for another hospital and was replaced by Lucien Bonnafé resistance fighter and self-described ‘outlaw’ he and Tosquelles turned the hospital into a shelter for members of the Francs-Tireurs et Partisans the armed wing of the French Communist Party who were sabotaging Nazi operations in the region This part of the story provokes in me a prickle of alarm and dissonance: the hospital was simultaneously housing vulnerable patients and hiding armed paramilitaries bringing the high risk of violence into what was meant to be a safe haven But Tosquelles drew a direct equivalence between the political and the psychiatric activities at Saint-Alban; after all the patients were aware of the war and knew that the castle sheltered resistance fighters: When I reflect on what unsettles me about this vision of the ‘asylum’ I am aware that the fear is rooted in my understanding of what those words mean But what Tosquelles and Bonnafé were able to see was that neither of these roles was fixed – patients could be strong both groups were engaged in the common project of resisting fascism it was justified by reference to the much greater violence it opposed that allowed for the ‘awakening’ of Saint-Alban beyond the diversity imposed by the patients created the variety of the entourage,’ he said the Nazi occupation shifted ‘the I towards the Us’ It’s this mutualism – this inclusive vision of antifascist practice the ability to imagine patients not as passive objects but as agents in their own destiny – that marked the difference between Saint-Alban and the other asylums in France The factors leading to the starvations across France were not only practical but psychic: there were limitations on what it was possible to think he took up a post at France’s second-largest hospital where more than 2,000 patients died during the war when asked by one interviewer why he and his colleagues didn’t send patients home to their families when it became clear that they were starving he said: ‘It would not have occurred to anyone.’ Under the laws that governed asylums before the war families were required to pay fees unless the person being committed was declared dangerous and placed under compulsory care 90 per cent of patients fell into this category this presented an ethical quandary and a personal dilemma To release a patient deemed ‘dangerous’ was irresponsible and possibly immoral; it was also an offence that might get a doctor stripped of the right to practise Even with the arrival of ‘scientific’ psychiatry in which Balvet also needed help to ‘disoccupy’ his attitudes In order to justify housing Jewish refugees he was required to disguise them as patients by diagnosing them with an illness ‘[I thought] it was unethical.’ It didn’t take long for him to be persuaded but the struggle reveals the fixity of the mindset he had to overcome The distinction here is between the psychiatrist as a warden of the establishment and the psychiatrist as an instrument of change If a doctor has internalised a system of reality in which the status quo is just and proper and in which a ‘doctor’ is a person who upholds the status quo they’re unlikely to react effectively when that status quo aligns itself with an international death cult as Tosquelles put it: ‘A good citizen is incapable of doing psychiatry.’ with medical authorities recommending the mass murder of the ‘feeble-minded’ and the ‘insane’ as a means of protecting the species from decline the symptoms of this legacy were in plain evidence at the outbreak of the Second World War France had 96 psychiatric hospitals in operation they had a capacity of 85,000 but were housing more than 110,000 patients with just 200 psychiatrists employed in their care – a ratio of one doctor to every 550 patients The inertia of the authorities ‘reduced the doctors to a disastrous impotence the sick to an existence which destroyed any chance of recovery,’ as one psychiatrist put it in 1952 Another recalled in 1979 that there was always an ‘indifference’ to psychiatric patients when he referred to the patients feeding refugees was that they too played a role in the development of Saint-Alban’s antifascist practice which featured articles describing the lives of patients and any activity could be the occasion for debate As Tosquelles later explained: ‘Nothing should ever be obvious This is all visible in the filmmaker Martine Deyres’s documentary Our Lucky Hours (2019) which captures life at the hospital during and after the war We see them earning a living in the hospital’s ergotherapy workshops: doing carpentry and metal work If you didn’t know what you were looking at it would be hard to tell that the people in the film are patients at all A picture taken during a hiking expedition shows the children of the staff nestling in the laps of patients ‘Nobody feared the patients,’ says a former nurse ‘I never put a patient in a straightjacket.’ Another employee explains how his children would roam from ward to ward ‘“Please come pick up So-and-So because he’s had too much to drink.” Two nurses would go and fetch the patient We thought nothing of it.’ In order to bring the hospital closer to the village around it the perimeter wall separating the two was torn down too closely mirrored the mentality of occupation While early photographs show the doctors wearing the white coats of their trade hospital policy soon changed to reject uniforms holding an impressive model boat above his head I assumed the person featured was one of the patients – perhaps the maker of the boat He couldn’t look less like the archetype of a psychiatrist In allowing himself to be photographed in this way Tosquelles exploded the distinction between himself and ‘les fous’ with whom he lived and worked François Tosquelles on the roof at Saint-Alban The policy of integration – between staff and patients hospital and community – was by no means merely aesthetic or conceptual It was driven by the conviction that there was something fundamentally wrong with psychiatry as previously conceived that it too closely mirrored the mentality of occupation of the ‘concentrationism’ of territorial wars: impulses that were rooted more in the desire for containment and control than in the search for human wellbeing Seeing that the hospital itself was ‘sick’ ‘to make the patients and the staff work to cure the institution’ the ‘institution’ became a place of collaboration and of mutual benefit for patients and staff alike ‘People call them “lunatics” but not me,’ as one former employee puts it in Our Lucky Hours ‘We owe everything we have to the hospital The maker of the boat that Tosquelles was holding was Auguste Forestier one of several artists in residence at Saint-Alban His story illustrates both the patients’ influence on the way of life at the hospital and the interplay that emerged there between antifascism and creativity Forestier had all of the defining predispositions of an artist: acute engagement with the present as an adolescent he began taking unpaid trips to wherever the train would carry him – Clermont-Ferrand Toulouse – from where the police would inevitably return him after causing a derailment by piling rocks on the line in the hope of seeing the train crush them he is said to have carved some wooden medals for himself claiming they had been given to him by the railway company in recognition of his good works.) He didn’t go entirely quietly but during this time he also began to further develop the imaginative aspects of his roaming practice He pored over magazines and history books in the hospital’s library a number of which were collected by the then-director Maxime Dubuisson which he shared with his grandson – a young Lucien Bonnafé Bonnafé explained later that it was seeing this work as a child that taught him ‘not to treat the creations of madmen By the time that Bonnafé arrived at Saint-Alban as an adult Forestier had moved on to carving and assemblage bones and other materials gleaned from the hospital into extraordinary sculptures exploring his passions for military and naval regalia Recognising the importance of his practice Bonnafé and Tosquelles encouraged Forestier to set up a workshop in an alcove next to the kitchen a place where he could remain central to the life of the community while not being disturbed Paul Éluard admired the kind of artist who ‘refuses to serve an absurd order based upon inequality’ a psychiatrist who interned at Saint-Alban after the war later described the way that Forestier was protected making sure he had his tools and could work in peace.’ Forestier was in ‘a permanent struggle against shattering and destruction Another Saint-Alban resident who understood the alignment of antifascism psychiatry and creativity was the poet Paul Éluard He was forced into hiding during the war when the British air-dropped thousands of copies of his poem ‘Liberté’ across France Sheltering at Saint-Alban during the winter of 1943-44 helped with the publication of pamphlets for the resistance and participated in the endless meetings that were the centre of the hospital’s life at the time He also bought several of Forestier’s sculptures (Among those who later saw the sculptures at Éluard’s home were the writer Raymond Queneau and the painter Pablo Picasso both of whom were moved to acquire some of their own The painter and sculptor Jean Dubuffet also saw and was intrigued by Forestier’s work and soon began his collection of what he came to call ‘Art Brut’.) We don’t know exactly what drew Éluard to Forestier because he never wrote about it explicitly – but there are clues in his archive he gave a description of the kind of artist he admired ‘The unprecedented is familiar to them,’ he said ‘fugitive’ nature of the relationships between things and were driven by a desire to liberate themselves from the separation of imagination and reality The lecture was given several years before Éluard visited Saint-Alban and the artists he was referring to were in fact the surrealists But I think the description could just as easily apply to Forestier in whose work I believe Éluard discerned precisely this combination of liberty and unity I suspect he also saw a glimmer of some wider agenda the one to which he dedicated the surrealist movement: that which ‘refuses to serve an absurd order based upon inequality,’ and which seeks ‘the total emancipation of humanity’ And it is called upon when lawyers claim that a man lying on the ground with the knee of a police officer crushing his airway died of ‘underlying health conditions’ Plenty of readers will feel uneasy at the suggestion that this system of reality the one that prevails in Europe and the US today many will prefer to think of fascism in the terms used by some historians as something defeated 80 years ago in Europe and that’s since been in abeyance aside from the behaviour of a few deranged marginals Others might understand fascism as a persisting threat but view it as a distinct component of the political spectrum promoted mostly by the white supremacists and ethno-nationalists we’ve heard so much from in the past decade a political system that ‘relieves its peoples of the burden of moral feelings’ and ‘deeply in accord with pure reason … treats human beings as things’ The antidote to this day-to-day fascism is not military but intellectual This is also what Michel Foucault was referring to in 1977 when he wrote about ‘the fascism in us all in our heads and in our everyday behaviour to desire the very thing that dominates and exploits us’ the journalist Natasha Lennard says ‘we can and should apply a more capacious understanding of fascism than simply “How much like Mussolini’s Italy or Hitler’s Germany is this?”’ We should use the word and collective practices’ that can thrive even in regimes that seem to be democratic Neither the Nazis nor their Vichy counterparts needed to exert themselves in causing the deaths of 45,000 psychiatric patients in France It was easy because the French population had already assented to a culture of indifference towards these people It is this same indifference that explains why the deaths remained largely unacknowledged outside clinical circles for 40 years after the war ended that we marshal in order to participate in lives governed by powers beyond our influence The principles of localism and community provision that it promoted were formalised across France in the 1960s as ‘sector psychiatry’ went on to set up a clinic in its image at La Borde in the Loire Valley But when the historian Robcis met with Oury in 2013, the year before his death, he described his fear that the ‘project would end with him’. Saint-Alban, now known as the François Tosquelles Hospital Centre, continues to offer psychiatric services but has moved steadily towards what Oury called ‘technocratic simplism’ a dehumanising culture of ‘bureaucratic requirements and administrative measures developed under the mask of pseudoscientific progress’ Saint-Alban shows us that they can be places of hope Antifascism can’t be delivered as a service Liberation works only if it includes everyone as actors Saint-Alban also represents a real-world demonstration of the communal day-to-day antifascist practice that Lennard says we now need every part of daily life was an opportunity for resistance for the members of its community to examine and soften their own and each other’s fascist impulses it recruited not just the unusual and unwanted to this project – those like Forestier – but also the townspeople who worked there Nobody was undeserving of protection and no one was exempt from the work of liberation Saint-Alban shows us that antifascism can’t be delivered as a service or applied to one group in isolation by another Vulnerable people can’t be emancipated passively liberation works only if it includes everyone as actors separating effects of day-to-day fascism: in our workplace hierarchies But Saint-Alban shows us that this is neither necessary nor inevitable If they could bring antifascism to life at a medieval castle in rural southern France under occupation it’s never too late to set ourselves – and each other – free The film Our Lucky Hours is available online here. You can read and listen to a conversation between Ben Platts-Mills, the film’s director Martine Deyres and the historian Camille Robcis here To read more on the history of psychiatry, visit Psyche a digital magazine from Aeon that illuminates the human condition through psychology EmailSavePostShareSYNDICATE THIS ESSAYSaveessay The Norse ravaged much of Europe for centuries. They were also cosmopolitan explorers who followed trade winds into the Far East Like today’s large language models, 16th-century humanists had techniques to automate writing – to the detriment of novelty Saveessay After a murderous kidnapping in Nigeria, I launched a campaign to put a stop to the abductions. Why did no one listen? When AI takes over the practice of science we will likely find the results strange and incomprehensible. Should we worry? In Plato’s Symposium, Socrates shared a theory of love from the teachings of a ‘non-Athenian woman’. Who was she really? Saveessay Condemned to death by firing squad, French resistance fighters put pen to paper. Their dying words can teach us how to live a group of 14 young adults from across the Diocese embarked on a journey of faith Starting with a residential weekend in January the group met monthly to explore spiritual practices The highlight was a week-long pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago a physically challenging yet deeply rewarding experience of spiritual reflection and personal growth As the year concluded with a commissioning service at the Cathedral the bonds formed and lessons learned continue to inspire each participant 14 pilgrims from across the Diocese set off to Spain They walked 113 kilometres along the Camino de Santiago to the resting place of St James This week capped off 2024 for The Alban way A part-time course that empowers young adults equips them as leaders and helps them to strengthen their relationship with Jesus Rather than dwelling on the destination in Spain Class 2024 transformed from a group of strangers united only by their faith and similar ages Getting to know like-minded individuals from across the broad spectrum of the Anglican Church was as important as the spiritual development that brought the group together That journey began in January with a residential weekend Acting as a concentrated burst of what the year would look like the cohort got to know each other over two days filled with worship It also introduced the idea of spiritual practices that the group would explore throughout the year.  we would learn about a new spiritual practice These skills could be anything from ancient monastic exercises to more modern ideas We were encouraged to try and use these in our daily lives throughout the coming month there was also the opportunity to meet in small groups to grow as a community in faith and fellowship This time together meant that when we met at the airport we were equipped for the challenge ahead of us in Spain The seven-day walk was a brilliant time for spiritual reflection The small towns and villages we stayed in each night immersed us in Spanish culture in a manner unmatched by any tourist resort The hilly countryside of Galicia was not an easy path but this made the faith propelling the journey and the friends alongside us all the more important While we completed the pilgrimage together it was clear that our time walking it had affected each of our hearts in its own way And while that was the culmination of 2024 for our group the course will conclude with a commissioning service at the Cathedral The Alban Way will be running again next year, starting in February 2025, more information and application forms are available at thealbanway.com Morgan is a member of the 2024 Alban Way cohort He has just graduated from a journalism degree and alongside work he is now supporting with youthwork at Oak Church How often have you wandered through the environs of St Albans Cathedral and taken notice of the stones beneath your feet are the final resting places of priests and parishioners Following previous articles examining the fascinating lives of some of those people buried at Hatfield Road Cemetery and the parish churches of St Michael’s it’s time to discover more about those buried at the Cathedral This particular journey of discovery was led by author Stephen De Silva who has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of this subject honed over decades spent as a Cathedral tour guide We started off outside the building itself close to the path which runs along its southern side which could very well have been the original burial site of St Alban himself Evidence that England’s first martyr was initially laid to rest on the hillside was discovered by archaeologist Professor Martin Biddle during excavations of what was the medieval cloister in 1982-3 and 1994-5 Although he did not find the saint’s actual grave he did uncover a Roman burial ground dating from the 200s to late 300s with signs of festival activity including coins pottery and food vessels on a pathway in the south-west corner This suggests that pilgrims may have used the path to reach a shrine of some description with Alban being the most obvious candidate before his body was relocated inside the Abbey once the location of the parish church of St Andrew’s before it was demolished includes various memorial stones and graves one-time Mayor of St Albans who not only built Torrington House but was also clerk of works to George Gilbert Scott during the restoration and repair of the Abbey crucial work which was overshadowed by later efforts He was most famous for his role in saving the tower from collapse in 1870 having noticed suspicious ‘cracks and crushing’ in the fabric around the presbytery and Ramryge chapel After closer inspection revealed the tower was in danger of collapsing he oversaw work to shore up a huge cavern in the foundation of the south-east pier Unfortunately his grave marker is currently damaged although there are hopes it will be restored Canon Glossop of the Cathedral said: “It was only this morning that God called one whose name will always be associated with this building as Clerk of Works in restoring one portion after another He has left a memorial to his skill and industry in these stones.” better known as Lord Grimthorpe (1816-1905) who spent the 1880s and 1890s rebuilding the west front and transept windows of the Cathedral at his own expense has been criticised for his unsympathetic restoration work which was at odds with that already achieved by Scott and Chapple His distinctive red tombstone can be found close to the north entrance to the Cathedral grounds and he is remembered in the Dictionary of National Biography: “Although a man of arrogance and bile and kindness towards people in need of help.” Close to Grimthorpe is a memorial to Captain James “Jim” Phillipson a former St Columba’s College student who became the first soldier to die in the modern Afghanistan conflict While on operations in Helmand Province on June 11 2006 he was killed after his mobile patrol was engaged in a firefight against suspected Taliban forces Close by is a memorial stone remembering former Cabinet minister and Hertsmere MP Cecil Parkinson (1931-2016) who served under Margaret Thatcher as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry until the revelation that his former secretary His wife Anne Mary Jarvis was the daughter of the founder of Harpenden building contractors Jarvis and Cecil was a regular figure around the district when MP Several Bishops of St Albans are also buried in the churchyard excavations in 1978 revealed the remains of 14 Abbots and four others who were reburied beneath the sanctuary floor inside the Cathedral A memorial slab of Welsh slate records the names of these “Fathers of the Abbey” carved in Roman letters by David Kindersley and Lida Lopes Cardozo It was unveiled on November 21 1979 during Vespers in Latin sung by English Benedictine monks accompanied by monks from Bec in Normandy those remembered include Adam the cellarer (the person in a monastery responsible for provisioning and catering) Robert of the Chamber who was the father of the only English Pope Nicholas Breakespeare Adam Wittenham (died before 1396) who was cellarer Hidden away under simple floor mats are the Cathedral’s surviving brasses which escaped being destroyed during the Reformation or stolen afterwards The first is of Sir Anthony Grey (born circa 1446 wearing elaborate plate armour including the distinctive collar of suns and roses adopted by the Yorkists after the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross in 1461 Another brass shows Brother Robert Beauver wearing the monastic cowled robe which was typical of the Benedictines who lived at the Abbey and the brass is thought to date to that time Hertfordshire Sheriff and City of London merchant and goldsmith Ralph Rowlatt (died 1543) is also remembered with a brass having previously profited from the closure of the monastery Rowlatt took the lease of a large share of the monks’ tenements in the town centre as well as tithes from outlying parishes He had previously testified against Brother William Ashwell had condemned the King’s marriage and the influence of Anne Boleyn and Cromwell whom Ashwell judged to be “maintainers of heresies and new fangleness” Rowlatt was also Master of the Mint during the reign of Henry VII and one-time owner of the Gorhambury Estate described as a merchant and Staple of Calais and bailiff of St Albans She survived him by several decades and became an extremely generous benefactress to both the Abbey and St Andrew’s chapel there is the brass of Abbot Thomas de la Mare which is thought to be one of the highest quality brasses in the country Thomas journeyed to receive his blessing and pallium from the Pope It it thought that it was during this journey that he ordered the brasses from Flanders two of his entourage died and he was gravely ill but recovered to return perhaps collecting the brasses on his way back He built the Great Gatehouse and was held in great esteem by the community He dealt with the local rebels during the Peasants’ Revolt and died in 1396 Thomas Flemish brass was commissioned circa 1355 most probably from Tournai which is in modern day Belgium The brass seemed to have survived the Dissolution of the Monastery – the story is that it was turned over and hidden and was also saved from destruction during the Civil War in the middle of the 17th century It was then sited near the High Altar and the crack in the brass matches the crack still visible in the memorial slab Moving around the Cathedral we find the Chantry Chapel of Abbot Thomas Ramryge which now includes Perspex angels representing the six stages of grief designed by Claudia Ashley-Brown Strictly speaking he was the last of the great medieval abbots and then two more who never functioned as powerful abbots The current Shrine of St Alban was built around 1308 smashed to pieces during the Reformation at some point after 1539 and rebuilt in 1872 Missing sections were discovered being used as infill for walls separating the Lady Chapel from the Abbey church when they were removed in the late 1800s The shrine contains within it a scapula (shoulder blade) This was a former Benedictine abbey church which had possessed remains believed to be those of the saint since the 10th century a memorial slab with the single word ‘Small’ is said to be the tomb of Henry Small who fled to France with £20,000 embezzled from his parishioners In an interview published by the Herts Advertiser in 1896 one Thomas Kent said: “He cheated everybody The bank in question was the Hertfordshire Savings Bank a pursuer of love affairs and a politician Humphrey’s collection of books now forms the nucleus of the precious manuscripts at the Bodleain Library in Oxford He died three days after being arrested on a treason charge but might have been deliberately killed by political rivals for power at Bury St Edmunds Shakespeare describes his murder by the agents of the Earl of Suffolk embalmed and brought to his prepared underground vault It was eventually rediscovered by workers in the 18th century and when they opened his lead coffin his body was found to be perfectly preserved can be seen adjacent to the ossuary of his university friend the man who later became Abbot John of Wheathampstead (died 1465) After early schooling at the Abbey School (now St Albans School) he entered St Albans Abbey when only 16 He was chosen abbot of this Benedictine monastery in 1420 and went on to greatly improve the buildings at St Albans which had suffered somewhat during his later years owing to the Wars of the Roses and also introduced internal reforms and promoted the Abbey’s property interests His body was rediscovered in 2017 when the foundations for the new Welcome Centre were being excavated alongside three papal bulls that Pope Martin V had given him 40 years before confirming the papal privileges he gained in 1423 The Shrine of St Amphibalus remembers the Christian priest that St Albans sheltered from persecution His grave was discovered in the village in 1178 and a shrine for his relics was built soon after they came to the Abbey in the 1100s They were relocated a couple of times and this shrine was originally bult in the late 1300s and located near Alban’s shrine It was also destroyed after the dissolution of the monasteries but pieces were discovered in 1872 with the other parts of the Alban shrine although unfortunately more than 55 per cent of the stone was lost The Victorians supported what remained using house bricks but by the early 1900s the shrine was moved to a dark corner of the north ambulatory aisle and largely ignored In 2019 the decision was taken to move it into the Chapel of Our Lady of the Four Tapers as part of the ‘Alban and to restore some faults made during the 1872 restoration But after being dismantled and sent to the workshop of stonemasons Skillington’s delaying much of the project until restrictions had lifted sufficiently to allow work in isolation on site The rededication eventually took place in 2021 with some of the new carvings representing the global crisis of that time including a small head wearing a facemask under the top ledge There are no longer any physical remains within the shrine but there is a small piece of fabric said to be part of the saint’s cloak donated by Italian Catholic pilgrims in 2016 In the area where Amphibalus’ shrine now stands believed to have contained the heart of Abbot Roger de Norton (died 1291) The box had been buried in a cylindrical hole in the floor before the altar of St Mary of the Four Tapers and is thought to originate from 10th century Afghanistan The lid had an Arabic inscription which reads “Everlasting glory and good fortune for him” Inside the North Transept is a memorial to Frederica Sophia Mure (1763-1834) whose daughter Eleanor Mure wrote the oldest version of the folktale The Three Bears in rhyming verse for the fourth birthday of her nephew Horace Broke in 1831 She illustrated them with original watercolours to show the bears as residents of Cecil Lodge an elegant mansion in Abbots Langley where the Mures lived (now demolished) In contrast to other versions of the story One of the most fascinating memorials Stephen leaves until last that of a medieval Baron Munchausen whose account of his astonishing adventures became the most celebrated book of the Middle Ages auspiciously by someone known as Sir John Mandeville (died 1372) the subject of an inscription on a pillar towards the West End of the Cathedral John de Mandeville travelled across the Islamic world as far as India and China inspiring the likes of Christopher Columbus and Leonardo da Vinci with his picturesque descriptions of the various lands he visited The narrator Mandeville identifies himself as a knight of St Albans who was writing of his past exploits to stave off boredom caused by incapacitating gout He recounts his time serving in the Great Khan’s army But although there is no contemporary evidence of a John Mandeville from that period it is said that the Abbey was presented by a gold sapphire ring which he owned and this is listed in a 15th century inventory There was also a local legend that a statue of Mandeville cross-legged and in armour with sword and shield There is evidence both for and against Mandeville being a real person with claims he was a fictional character invented by either John of Burgundy or John d’Outremeuse which were discredited in the 19th century quote extensively from other works of the time suggesting they were not an original work. There are also conflicting claims about his burial place although a church in Liege also had a memorial to Sir John – but this has since burnt down lists Sir John as one of the ‘Worthies of St Albans’ in 1370 and one has to ask why would a medieval French writer claim to be a knight from St Albans Giles Milton defends Sir John’s reputation in ‘The Riddle and the Knight’ My whistlestop tour of the Cathedral’s dearly departed was brought to life largely by the enthusiasm and wisdom of my guide although it’s easy enough to find most of the features mentioned in this article if you don’t want a formal tour We’ll be wrapping up this series with a final article later this year looking at those people buried in some of the churchyards in Harpenden and the villages why not take the time out to enjoy a tour around St Albans Cathedral in the company of one of the expert guides It really will cast a new light on the city’s most celebrated building St Albans and Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society You can help keep quality local journalism alive by making a one-off donation or set up a regular direct debit Any contributions will help ensure the long-term future of the St Albans Times ©2025 St Albans Times. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Website by Moxie All three Peregrine falcon eggs at St Albans Cathedral have been broken A Facebook post from the Cathedral said: “Today a very sad incident occurred at our Peregrine falcon nest “We are currently working with the Rural Operational Support team at Hertfordshire Constabulary and a person is assisting the police with their enquiries “The live cam will remain offline until further notice.” According to posts on the Cathedral’s Facebook page a man was seen walking over the eggs and crushing them Dean Jo Kelly-More said: “We are so desperately sad at the harm done to eggs in our peregrine falcon nest here in the tower at St Albans Cathedral We are very grateful for the support offered at this time to resolve what has taken place “As a Cathedral community we are committed to our responsibility to care for God’s creation and it has been our joy to welcome our peregrine parents Alban and Boudica back to their home at the Cathedral for a fourth year “Our thanks to the Middlesex and Hertfordshire Wildlife Trust and to the thousands of people watching our livecam who have continued to support our peregrine parents and their chicks over that time Hertfordshire Constabulary said: “We are aware of livestream footage circulating involving peregrine falcon eggs at St Albans Cathedral and we are working with partners at St Albans Cathedral and the National Wildlife Crime Unit to look into the incident We are also in contact with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust Officers from the Rural Operational Support Team are speaking with a man to assist with their enquiries” director of nature recovery at HMWT added: “All of us at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust are saddened by today’s news of the damage to the Peregrine falcons’ eggs Along with thousands of other wildlife spectators we have been avidly following the breeding antics of the Peregrine falcon pair one of only five breeding pairs in Hertfordshire “Peregrine falcons have full legal protection under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and we welcome the efforts of all those involved in thoroughly investigating this incident to uphold the law and safeguard these remarkable birds.” the Alban Pilgrimage ecumenical procession will unite with the vibrant Alban Festival all day Saturday Witness the awe-inspiring spectacle of 12ft puppets weaving through the streets retelling the story of St Alban - from whom the City gets its name The procession begins at St Peter's (CoE) Church at 11am and its magnificent journey will take it down St Peter's Street and onto the High Street culminating with a spectacle at the West End of the Cathedral the celebrations from the Orchard all the way up to the High Street as the St Albans Festival joins up for the first time with Pilgrimage There will be a hive of activity on the Orchard with re-enactments all being bridged by a stage at the Clock Tower with live music 11am - Procession starting from St Peter's CoE Church12 noon - Pilgrimage Eucharist at the CoE Cathedral12 noon - 5pm - Entertainment and activities across St Albans4pm - Pilgrimage Evensong at the Cathedral St Alban's Cathedral Alban Day: www.stalbanscathedral.org/Event/alban-day Alban Pilgrimage: www.stalbanscathedral.org/alban-pilgrimage Tags: St Alban, St Alban's Cathedral Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ reflects on St Oscar Romero St Alban's: Prayers at the Peace Pillar The Popemobile of Peace: Pope Francis' final gift to Gaza Cameroon: Easter heartbreak - A deeply moving Resurrection story from the frontline We offer publicity space for Catholic groups/organisations. See our advertising page if you would like more information ICN aims to provide speedy and accurate news coverage of all subjects of interest to Catholics and the wider Christian community As our audience increases - so do our costs You can support our journalism by advertising with us or donating to ICN Vacancies  |  Find a church   |  Find a person  |  Safeguarding |  Donate | Schools A rural church near Whitley Bay has hosted a special celebration to mark the completion of a five-year project to provide new facilities.   Affectionately known as ‘The Netty Project’ the ambitious scheme has brought much-needed ramped access to St Alban’s as well as two toilets (one of them fully accessible) welcome area and kitchen.    also has a new media room to assist with the live streaming of services.   A special service took place on Sunday 12 January when the congregation gathered while church member Helen Jackman who originally came up with ‘The Netty Project’ name performed a ceremonial flushing of the new toilets to cheers and applause.   vicar of St Alban’s said: “Geordies call toilets ‘the netty’ So when Helen jokingly called it ‘The Netty Project’ the name stuck making St Alban’s a much improved base for mission.   “A few days before the grand opening It was lovely to see buggies rolling smoothly up the beautiful ramp which replaced the previous two-step access young families came and went to the netty and used the baby-change facilities Above the font is a beautiful ‘halo’ lighting It was special to stand under that for the baptism.”  Tim said the church’s decision to turn around two pews creating a welcome area at the back of church proved popular as it provided space for parents to park buggies and feed babies before the service.  Architect Tristan Spicer of Doonan Architects in Hexham drew St Alban’s nine increasingly ambitious schemes Earsdon Treasurer Rob Swindells held out for the most ambitious of these which was built by Northern Construction Solutions (NCS) Ltd and project manager Gary Singleton of NCS joined the St Alban’s congregation for the big opening.   St Alban’s Netty Project was paid for by legacies and a gift day at the church Transforming Communities Together (TCT) kindly granted £4,000 Then in August 2024 the National Heritage Lottery rode to the rescue with a game-changing grant of over £50,000 Work then commenced on 23 September 2024.   Please email comments to letters@livingchurch.org. I met the former St. Alban’s, Olney, in 1990 when I was 10 years old, a soprano at a guest Solemn Evensong with the former Singing Boys of Pennsylvania, a sort of choral sideshow that traveled throughout North America, East Asia, and Europe between 1970 and 2014. I remember little about what we sang at the service, but I do remember Canon Dorsey, maybe a dozen people in the pews, and a short trip home from North Philadelphia at night in the choir bus. I knew little more about St. Alban’s until I was 17 and was given a small red copy of The Practice of Religion by a priest friend. The book, published continuously since 1911, is “a short manual of instructions and devotions” of Anglo-Catholic material not included in the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer. The book’s title page proclaims its author as the rector of St. Alban’s. Through books, I came to learn more about St. Alban’s and its pastor of 54 years, Archibald Campbell Knowles. The story of the experiment he launched could only have happened in its place and time with a unique constellation of personality and wealth, and I revisited it with friends this year during Passiontide. Archibald Campbell Knowles was born in Philadelphia in 1865. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1885, and traveled widely in Europe for the next 10 years. The family’s trajectory through the Social Register and Philadelphia Clubland gives an indication of his early life. Despite never attending seminary (not uncommon at the time), he was ordained to the diaconate in 1898 and assumed charge of the small mission of St. Luke’s, Germantown, in a bustling neighborhood of North Philadelphia. After Knowles was ordained to the priesthood by the Bishop of Milwaukee, he formed the parish along what he would have described as “thorough” Anglo-Catholic lines in an originally humble church building. Fr. Knowles received a Nashotah D.D. in 1937 in commemoration of 30 years as rector. He continued to spend one to two months a year in Europe, writing extensively on Swiss mountaineering, Anglo-Catholicism, and French architecture — and even publishing a biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt as well as a very bad novel. Fr. Knowles died in 1951, the year he was made rector emeritus. He left some of his residual estate to domestic servants, but the remainder to St. Alban’s on the condition that it make no deviation from his standards of Anglo-Catholic teaching and practice. His estate finally wound up 32 years later in 1983, but the parish limped along financially with Knowles fumes for almost 20 more years and single digits of parishioners. St. Alban’s had only one other lasting permanent priest, Canon James Claypoole Dorsey, who began his ministry in 1961 and celebrated its final Masses four decades later. By 1966 the parish was struggling to pay a priest’s stipend, and the service registers indicate only one baptism every few years, outpaced significantly by burials. (Even in its heyday, baptisms were surprisingly infrequent and often of newborns at local hospitals rather than of parishioners’ children or adult converts.) By 1968, the roof was leaking and the building needed an estimated $250,000 in repairs. A vestryman complained to the bishop that the parish was being “run to a large extent on gambling and grants,” noting that bingo fundraisers had become the church’s most popular neighborhood offering. It remained a regular setting for the annual gatherings of devotional societies such as the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament and the Guild of All Souls. When I drove by St. Alban’s on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the end of Lent, my heart leapt as I saw a man walking from its side door to his car. He asked if I and my three companions would like to come inside. We very much did, and he gave us a tour of the place half in French and half in English, but all in evangelical hospitality. I learned about the new congregants’ delight in the exquisite English windows, their weekly attendance of about 200 people who worship in their own heart language, perform full-immersion baptism in portable tubs, have services that last several hours with drums and a keyboard but no organ music or incense, and certainly none of Fr. Knowles’s irreducible minimum of Anglican faith and parish life. An older self would have exclaimed “Ichabod!” and thought poorly of the people who had now made the space their own, but this is not where I went this year. Part of me mourned within for several reasons, and part of me could see sparks among the stubble — perhaps even flames from those sparks. Something beautiful had been changed, but not ended. Absent the need for a stipend, the congregants never needed to practice stewardship in support of the ministry; and they were indeed never able to do so. By the late 1990s, portions of the building had begun to collapse much like the internal coherence of American Anglo-Catholicism had been doing since the early 1970s. The end was ineluctable. Richard J. Mammana Jr. is the Episcopal Church’s associate for ecumenical and interreligious relations. Richard Mammana is a lay church historian, author, beekeeper, father, husband, and communicant of S. Clement’s Church, Philadelphia. He serves as archivist of The Living Church Foundation and launched Anglicanhistory.org in 1999. USPG has unveiled Open to Encounter: Mission in the 21st Century, a new strategy developed under its recently commissioned general secretary. © 2025 The Living Church Foundation. All rights reserved. The St Albans Spring Festival on Sunday 18 May will be a celebration of food Thousands of people are expected at the street party which will take place from 11am to 5pm with St Peter’s Street closed to traffic.  street theatre and dozens of stalls selling takeaway food sighted guides and British sign language interpreters will be in attendance St Albans City and District Council is organising the Festival and will also be bringing back its popular Christmas Cracker the event which launches the festive season in the District will not take place this year with May’s Spring Festival being used instead to highlight the District’s hospitality businesses and tourism offering We have rearranged our street events to give our residents an excellent choice of things to do from May all the way through to November but there are a lot of things going on in the late summer and it was felt May was a better date for an event The Spring Festival will mark the start of the warmer months and with the Cracker in November our events will book- end the outdoor season Residents and visitors will have an abundance of opportunities to get out and about and socialise with their friends and neighbours More details about the Spring Festival entertainment will appear in the Council’s social media channels in the run-up to the event Among the other events to be held in the District this year are:  St Albans - Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June a procession of giant puppets recreating the story of St Alban through the City to the Cathedral - Saturday 21 June St Albans - Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 July St Albans - Friday 5 to Sunday 7 September Harpenden Food and Drink Festival - Saturday 13 September St Albans Cathedral Fireworks - Saturday 1 November Harpenden Christmas Carnival - Sunday 23 November Photo: scene from a street event last year Media contact:  John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727- 819533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk The decision to end Christian prayers before meetings of St Albans district council has won the support of the National Secular Society proposed by Liberal Democrat councillor Sinéad Howland said the inclusion of prayers before the meetings “may inadvertently exclude or alienate individuals of different faiths or those without religious beliefs” She said this contradicts the council’s “commitment to equality and inclusivity” and “disrupts the start of the meeting” The motion noted that despite the intention to hold prayers in a separate session before the meetings this separation “has not been consistently or effectively achieved” This had led to councillors of other religions and beliefs feeling “the need to wait outside disrupting the process of preparing for the meeting” The motion also noted the Equality Act 2010 includes a Public Sector Equality Duty on public bodies to “eliminate discrimination and foster good relations between people with different characteristics” including both religious and nonreligious beliefs It said removing prayers aligns with these obligations and demonstrates “leadership in fostering a neutral welcoming environment for all councillors and stakeholders” It added that modernising council practices to reflect changes in societal expectations “is essential to maintain public trust and relevance” district councils have trended towards removing prayers from their meetings and only three out of ten councils maintain this practice “This reflects a growing movement towards more inclusive and secular proceedings,” the motion said prayers may be replaced by a “brief and non-denominational” moment of silence for personal reflection or contemplation Cllr Howland said: “This motion ensures that our council meetings mirror the diversity of our community allowing no councillor to feel like an outsider in their own chamber “Numerous councils have already implemented this change recognising the necessity for a neutral and professional environment where all members can begin their work on equal footing we modernise our proceedings and reaffirm our commitment to equality for all.” The NSS campaigns for inclusive local democracy and opposes the imposition of acts of worship in council meetings NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: “It’s great news that St Albans council recognises the importance of an inclusive and secular approach to local government “We congratulate the council on its decision to remove prayers from the beginning of meetings to ensure no one in attendance feels alienated or excluded “We urge all local councils across the country which still hold prayers to take heed and follow this example.” was less positive about the move: “As the Bishop of St Albans I am saddened by the decision to remove prayers from the start of St Albans district council meetings particularly as this appears contrary to the spirit of the Local Government (Religious etc which allows for religious or philosophical observances at local authority meetings wisdom and encouragement as councillors prepare to serve their community we remain committed to praying for our local representatives We will continue to pray that they are guided by wisdom and compassion.” associate minister at St Paul’s Church in Fleetville also does not support the decision: “I’m disappointed that the councillors of the city named after Saint Alban but I’m sure the city’s Christians will continue to pray for all our elected representatives “When I’ve said prayers ahead of the council meeting I’ve prayed that the councillors will have wisdom and mutual respect and seek to represent all the people in our diverse community would join with me in praying that.” A familiar face at the entrance of the Alban Arena is celebrating an extraordinary 50 years of dedicated service to the venue began his journey in 1974 when the venue was still known as City Hall he has become an integral part of the theatre’s identity welcoming thousands of customers and ensuring their safety his dedication extends beyond the Alban Arena as he also works at the Eric Morecambe Centre in Harpenden Mick’s working life started before his time at the theatres balancing work in agricultural engineering during the day with his role at the theatre in the evenings and weekends becoming a microwave engineer during the week having retired from his electronics career he enjoys part-time work at the theatres: “My role has remained largely the same over the years open up and lock the building at the end of the night You can’t compromise on safety,” he said Mick has witnessed significant changes in theatre operations including the introduction of electronic ticket scanners tearing a bit of the corner of the ticket,” he recalled but frustrating when they don’t!”His position has brought him into contact with numerous celebrities from music bands to royalty,” said Mick “I met Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne about 30 years ago at a charity dinner.” “I love to keep moving,” he shared though I don’t use it as much these days managed by leisure operator Everyone Active in partnership with SADC recently recognised Mick’s service during a special celebration chocolates and a commemorative plaque to mark his 50 years of dedication Theatre general manager Kate Barton praised Mick’s contribution: “Mick is a huge part of both the Alban Arena and the Eric Morecambe Centre “He’s welcomed generations of families to our shows and pantomimes over the years – many of whom know him by name as he’s been here since they were children Mick’s impact goes far beyond just checking tickets His 50 years of service have made him more than just an employee – he’s a beloved figure in St Albans and a living part of the Alban Arena’s history “The commemorative plaque is just one way we wanted to recognise him for his consistent hard work and dedication to this incredible venue.” Mick’s impact extends beyond his official duties who is herself celebrating 25 years with the venue described him as “an absolute legend.” “He’s always been a pleasure to work with from day one,” said Davinia “He’s got a great way about him and he’s fantastic with the customers I can’t imagine him not being on the door greeting the customers in for the shows.” “I want to carry on until my body gives up,” he stated firmly “I’m stubborn and always have been Mick attributes his success to a simple philosophy: “Kindness and respect Churches across the area will be holding special services to celebrate Christmas – and they all welcome everyone to turn up and join in No reason to worry about whether you’ll feel out of place And church is a very special place to be at Christmas Many are places where Christmas has been celebrated for centuries… where carols have been sung and the baby Jesus welcomed to the world for generations Churches are places where communities gather people coming together to share life and to worship and pray together There will be services of all kinds on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – from fun informal Nativities where the children (and adults) can dress up and help tell the story to midnight Communions where the candlelight shines out in the darkness the celebration will be centred on the birth of the new-born king Jesus Christ – God come to live among us as a human being and yet rose again to new life – to offer that new life Here are details of many of the church services being held locally on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day You are warmly invited to come along and celebrate Christmas at a church near you www.ststephenandstjulian.org Christmas Eve: 4pm crib service (in church) Christmas Day: 8am Holy Communion (in church) 10am family Communion (in church and online) Christmas Day: 10am Holy Communion (in church) www.stalbanscathedral.org Christmas Eve: 11am crib service (in church only) Christmas Day: 8am Eucharist with hymns (in church only) 9.30am Christmas Day Eucharist (online and church) 11.15am Christmas Day Eucharist (in church only) Corner of Hatfield Road and Blandford Road www.stpauls-stalbans.org with the chance to dress up (in church only) Christmas Day: 8.30am Holy Communion service (in church and online) 10.30am Christmas celebration (in church and online) www.stjohnsharpenden.org.uk Christmas Eve: 11am carols around the crib (in church only) Christmas Day: 8am Holy Communion (in church only) 10am all-age parish Eucharist (in church and online) www.parishofharpenden.org Christmas Eve: 3pm Christmas crib service (in church only) 5pm Christmas crib service (in church only) 11pm midnight Holy Communion (in church only) Christmas Day: 8am Holy Communion with carols (in church only) 9.30am Holy Communion with carols (in church only) 11.30am morning praise with carols (in church only) www.stmichaels-parishchurch.org.uk Christmas Day: 11.15am: Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer Christmas Eve: 4pm Christmas crib service (in church only) 11.30pm midnight Communion (in church only) Christmas Day: 10am short family-friendly service with carols and communion www.saint-lukes.co.uk Christmas Eve: 11.15pm midnight Communion (in church only) Christmas Day: 10am all-age Christmas Day Communion (in church and online) www.stpeterschurch.uk.com Christmas Eve: 3pm crib service (in church only) Christmas Day: 8am Communion service (in church only) 10am all-age Christmas Communion (in church and online) www.albanstephen.org Christmas Eve: 5pm Vigil Mass of Christmas (online and in church) 7pm Vigil Mass of Christmas (online and in church) 10pm Vigil Mass of Christmas (online and in church) Christmas Day: 8am Christmas Mass (online and in church) 9.30am Christmas Mass (online and in church) 11.30am Christmas Mass (online and in church) www.spicerstreet.org.uk Christmas Eve: 4.30pm family celebration (in church only) Christmas Day: 10.30am Christmas family service (in church and online) www.ccstalbans.org.uk children can dress up in Nativity costumes (in church only) Christmas Day: 10am Christmas Day family service (in church and online) sandridgechurch.org.uk 5pm family carols by candlelight (in church only) 11pm midnight Mass (in church only) Christmas Day: 10am Christmas Day Parish Communion (in church only) stmichaels-parishchurch.org.uk Christmas Eve: 4pm crib service (in church only) Christmas Day: 9.30am Christmas Communion (in church only) verso.church Christmas Eve: 5pm carols and everything you love about that night before Christmas feeling (online and in church) www.ssaviours.org Christmas Eve: 10am said Mass (in church only) Christmas Day: 8am said Mass (in church only) mbfc.org.uk Christmas Day: 10.15am family service (in church only) www.hatfieldroadmethodist.org Christmas Eve: 11.15pm midnight Communion (online and in church) Christmas Day: 10.30am all-age Christmas celebration (in church and online) www.dsbc.org.uk Christmas Day: 10.15am family celebration (in church and online) www.stalbanssouth@rcdow.org.uk Christmas Eve: 4pm Vigil Mass for children and families (in church only) Christmas Day: 8.30am family Mass; 10.30am solemn Mass of the Days (in church only) Christmas Eve: 2.30pm crib service (in church only) 11.30pm midnight Holy Communion (in church only) Christmas Day: 9.30am family Christmas Communion (in church only) St Alban’s Anglican Church Mooroopna will be opening its doors for another round of quirky thrifts and unique finds the church’s Monster Garage Sale has remained a strong and active presence in the community raising an estimated $40,000 supporting local groups The team will once again be “stripping out the church” to fill with donated goods that anyone can take home for a low price “We’ve got everything from bull bars to bassinets to books,” parish priest Simon Robinson said knick-knacks and a vast array of clothes as well and we’re also concurrently running a wood raffle .. so we’ve got two and a half cubic metres of wood that we’re raffling because people are struggling to find good wood.” All it takes to enter the raffle is a gold coin donation “There’s refreshments available and people are welcome to stay as long as they like,” Fr Robinson said “They can be assured that every dollar they spend will go to someone in need “And we want to say thank you for the way Greater Shepparton and the wider region have supported it over the years and the way they’ve blessed us enabled us to bless a lot of people who could use a bit of it .. To learn more about St Alban’s Anglican Church Mooroopna, visit mooroopnaanglican.com/ Share to FacebookShare to LinkedinA moving Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service will take place in St Albans City Centre on Sunday 10 November will lead the annual event and will be joined by leaders of the major faiths Everyone is welcome to attend and pay their respects to members of Britain’s armed forces who lost their lives in two World Wars and other conflicts The Mayor will lead a parade through the City Centre at 10.30am with representatives of the Royal British Legion Honorary Aldermen and Councillors from County Town and Parish Councils will be in attendance.  Mayor Day will be accompanied by his Macebearer and both will wear their official robes The procession will walk to the War Memorial The Revd Mark Dearnley of St Peter’s Church who will conduct the service A bugler will play the last post which will be followed by a two-minute silence at 11am.  Rabbi Daniel Sturgess of St Albans United Synagogue will read from the Hebrew Scriptures.  will read from the Holy Quran and Rev Michael O’Boy of St Alban and St Stephen Catholic Church will read from the Christian New Testament there will be prayers and the St Albans City Band will provide the music for hymns and representatives of the Fire and Rescue Police and Ambulance Services and other groups there will be a procession to a saluting stand where the Mayor will take the salute of the parade People of all ages and from all parts of our community will want to join us to pay their respects to our war dead they will be recognising the huge debt we owe to the men and women who defended our country and the freedoms we enjoy today I urge people to give generously to this year’s Poppy Appeal to help the Royal British Legion carry out the fantastic welfare work it does for our Armed Forces families Some Town and Parish Councils within the District are also organising Remembrance Sunday services scene from last year’s parade and service; bottom Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727-819533,  john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk Fifteen years since the inaugural St Albans Food and Drink Festival launched with a fortnight-long focus on the city’s hospitality businesses the event has been replaced with a new spring celebration the one-day September celebration which incorporated the old Food and Drink Festival has now been axed as it was considered that time of year was already packed with other events The Food and Drink Festival was the brainchild of former SADC tourism manager Charles Baker and launched in 2009 with a huge programme of events that also included the St Albans Food and Drink Awards explained: “We have rearranged our street events to give our residents an excellent choice of things to do from May all the way through to November “The Spring Festival will mark the start of the warmer months and with the Christmas Cracker in November our events will book-end the outdoor season Residents and visitors will have an abundance of opportunities to get out and about and socialise with their friends and neighbours.” The calendar of events taking place around the district this year includes: Redbourn – Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25 St Albans – Friday May 30 to Sunday June 1 Harpenden Carnival – Saturday June 7 a procession of giant puppets recreating the story of St Alban through the city to the Cathedral – Saturday June 21 St Albans – Wednesday July 23 to Sunday July 27 St Albans – Friday September 5 to Sunday September 7 Harpenden Food and Drink Festival – Saturday September 13 St Albans Cathedral Fireworks – Saturday November 1 St Peter’s Street – Sunday November 16 Harpenden Christmas Carnival – Sunday November 23 2025 is going to be a spectacular year in St Albans with an exciting What’s On programme packed with festivals The incredible Museum of the Moon artwork installation by Luke Jerram measuring 7 metres in diameter and featuring 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface is hanging in the magnificent Nave at St Albans Cathedral until February 15 Events taking place under the magic of its moonlight include yoga A special highlight will be Interstellar 10 when Roger Sayer the organist on the original film soundtrack for Interstellar will perform a suite of Hans Zimmer’s music from the film on February 15 Later in the year Poppies Field Light brings an emotional sound and light show taking the visitor on a journey of reflection and hope with an installation to commemorate the World War One Centenary at October half term Discover first-hand the experience of being behind bars at St Albans Museum + Gallery’s thought-provoking Catching the Chain exhibition bringing the history of criminal justice to life Other fascinating exhibitions include School of Art celebrating 150 years of the establishment from May to September Thingchronicity featuring multidisciplinary artist Maria Meyer’s captivating sculptures and installations until March and later in the year look out for exhibitions exploring Islamic art and objects Join the flip-tastic fun of the annual St Albans Pancake Day Race where teams of four compete in walking and running pancake flipping races on Shrove Tuesday (March 4) in the city centre seeks to uncover what good health and healthcare meant to our ancient Roman ancestors how they understood their bodies and minds as well as their cultural perceptions and experiences of conditions that we recognise as disabilities today St Albans Festival of Film is a star-studded weekend celebrating British film and TV history presented by Renown Pictures and Talking Pictures TV It will include celebrity hosts and guests stalls and exclusive show offers – look out for Dame Sian Phillips Diane Keen and Mike Read at the Alban Arena from March 22-23 The Herts County Show on May 24-25 features stunning performances by beautiful sports horses the very best of local shopping with deliciously curated produce in the Food Court and iconic Made in Herts zones with local foods and crafts Immerse yourself in agriculture with a packed timetable of livestock and equine classes and discover awe-inspiring plant and machinery from past and present at the Farm-Yard and Countryside zones Deep Dish offer weekly beach volleyball training sessions social sessions plus tournaments and private hire at the courts in stunning Verulamium Park Suitable for all ages and levels it’s a great way to meet play and chill with fellow members of the beach sport community in an incredible facility Booking is required and the courts are open from March St Albans Tour Guides run captivating walks sharing the city’s fascinating local history throughout the year All guides are qualified with the Institute of Tourist Guiding arguably the world’s leading organ competition is a biennial festival of inspirational music and art It celebrates its 33rd competition this year taking place at St Albans Cathedral from July 7-19 Theatre production company OVO’s hugely popular open-air Roman Theatre Festival sees captivating imaginative and surprising new versions of classic plays and stories performed in an ancient and atmospheric setting between June-August Productions include 1970s disco themed A Midsummer Night’s Dream a folk and jazz infused adaptation of Les Misérables and an irreverent take on Hamlet The Foodies Festival returns to St Albans for its biggest weekend yet at Oaklands College from May 30 to June 1 The annual St Albans SustFest celebrates its tenth year and to mark the occasion there will be four mini festival weekends called SustFest Seasons each championing nature and biodiversity plus local and global sustainability trends Events will look at practical lifestyle changes including travel energy and fashion and provide inspiration on how to live more sustainably and take place on March 14-17 St Albans Folk Festival is a vibrant weekend of events including a day of dance and music in the city centre and an afternoon of family fun between June 13-15 Join the annual Alban Pilgrimage on June 21 an impressive city centre procession of giant 12ft tall carnival puppets and a colourful re-enactment of events which led to Alban’s execution at the hands of the Romans Pilgrimage worship at St Albans Cathedral brings the day to an end St Michael’s Folk Evening returns to St Michael’s Village on July 2 for a wonderful celebration of live music St Albans Comedy Garden promises the ultimate remedy this summer with four nights of stupendous stand-up comedy starring the finest comedians of the moment from July 24-27 in Verulamium Park Pub in the Park – hosted by Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge – is back in Verulamium Park from September 5-7 promising an action-packed weekend dancing to sensational live bands and devour mouth-watering dishes created by award-winning restaurants and top chefs CAMRA’s St Albans Beer and Cider Festival will be serving up thousands of pints of beer ciders and perries from all round the world together with live music phenomenal street food and snacks at the Alban Arena from September 24-27 As part of Heritage Open Days in September St Albans’ Clock Tower will be open free to visitors and include a 1.7m high scale model of the medieval building to illustrate its architecture along with a display discussing construction and renovations over the years The unique Dial Room will also be open and children can enjoy a fun Hunt the Golden Key game With 2025 being a Ryder Cup year it’s a great time to find out more about the man behind the prestigious golfing competition Pick up a Samuel Ryder trail at St Albans Museum + Gallery and visit key landmarks and buildings giving an insight into one of the city’s most notable citizens – a successful businessman churchman and local politician – and of course the founder of one of the world’s greatest sporting events The hugely popular Gin & Jazz Festival takes place in historic George Street on October 3 with businesses opening their doors for late night shopping Don’t miss St Albans Cathedral’s Fireworks Spectacular at Verulamium Park raising thousands of pounds for local charities on November 1 An ead to the city centre over the festive period for the Enjoy St Albans Christmas programme packed with joy and merriment. Check EnjoyStAlbans.com for event listings closer to the time You can help keep quality local journalism alive by making a one-off donation or set up a regular direct debit. Any contributions will help ensure the long-term future of the St Albans Times. Share to FacebookShare to LinkedinThousands of people are expected at one of the biggest St Albans City Centre events of the year – Alban Day the Alban Pilgrimage and the Alban Street Festival are being held on the same day to create one unmissable occasion on Saturday 22 June St Albans BID (Business Improvement District) is sponsoring the event The annual Pilgrimage – organised by St Albans Cathedral - is a spectacular parade of giant puppets that tell the story of Alban The procession begins at 11am from St Peter's Church and will move along St Peters Street the High Street and George Street with the roads closed temporarily to traffic The colourful procession will include Roman centurions It will culminate in a gathering at the Cathedral Orchard where the execution of Alban will be re-enacted Families will then be able to enjoy a picnic as well as a number of entertaining activities The Council is organising the Alban Festival which in previous years was held on the following day It will provide a City Centre focus running alongside the regular Charter Market and include exciting attractions such as live music at the Clock Tower Many historic characters from the City’s past will be present to interact with the crowds Windrush Day also falls on Saturday 22 June and is being celebrated with events by the Vintry Garden This will include Caribbean music and food as well as the chance for people to play dominoes the Council’s Assistant Director (Regulatory and Compliance) for Community and Place Delivery This one unforgettable event brings together the Pilgrimage the Street Festival and the Charter Market to provide residents and visitors with numerous attractions and entertainment We will also be marking Windrush Day with Caribbean food and music I’d urge everyone to make a note in their diary and come along to what promises to be a fabulous day The Cathedral and Council have united for Alban Day to make sure our unique status in being the place of the first Christian saint for England is commemorated and celebrated.  Our namesake is integral to St Albans; it's our calling card to all our residents and visitors and BID’s sponsorship shows how proud we are of our vibrant City Saturday 22 June happens to be St Alban’s Day itself the day that Alban was executed for his faith on the site of the Cathedral making him Britain’s first saint and martyr.  We hope that people will come from across our City and District to celebrate our shared patron saint We invite all people to come and join in our procession as we move from St Peter’s Church pass the Museum and onto the West End of the Cathedral where we witness Alban’s dramatic execution It is especially fitting that our preacher for the Pilgrimage Eucharist will be Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani Bishop Guli was born in Iran but had to escape religious persecution with her family finding a shelter and home in this country “It is a reminder that the story of Alban’s hospitality to a priest seeking refuge still resonates so strongly today We are really looking forward to seeing two new puppets appear for the first time the Cathedral’s own breeding pair of peregrine falcons The word ‘peregrine’ itself means ‘pilgrim,’ so it is only right that they should feature with the thousands of other pilgrims who will be with us for this great celebration Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, 01727 819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk Daisy Greenwell from Smartphone-Free Childhood says move likely to have domino effect in other parts of UK “We are absolutely thrilled and we believe it’s going to have a domino effect.” She was reacting to news that St Albans in Hertfordshire is attempting to become the first UK city to go smartphone-free for all children under 14 Before St Albans, it was Greystones in Ireland last year where parents banded together to collectively tell their children they could not have a smartphone until secondary school Greenwell believes others will now take similar steps “People are going to feel emboldened to follow suit,” said Greenwell whose local WhatsApp group on the issue “exploded” attracting 100,000 supporters in a matter of months “The groundswell of support we have seen has been completely mindblowing.” Headteachers in 30-plus primaries across St Albans got together to draw up a joint letter to send to families in which they declared their schools smartphone-free and urged parents to delay giving their children a smartphone until at least year 9 of secondary school 91% of children in the UK own a smartphone by the time they are 11 and 44% by the time they are nine but concerns have been mounting about online safety and the impact of social media on children’s mental health The heads’ letter said: “The use of smartphones is now a feature of daily life for most adults and over the last few years the age at which children are given their first smartphone has dropped significantly “We know that in our schools some children as young as key stage 1 [ages five to seven] have smartphones Whilst smartphones can be a very helpful piece of technology for adults they can equally expose children to a number of negative risks.” The letter went on: “We encourage all parents to delay giving children a smartphone until they reach the age of 14 opting instead for a text/call phone alternative if necessary “As headteachers we have committed to promoting our own schools as smartphone-free We believe we can all work together across St Albans and join the growing movement across the country to change the ‘normal’ age that children are given smartphones.” executive headteacher at the Cunningham Hill federation of schools and co-chair of the St Albans primary schools consortium Queries meanwhile have been flooding in from parents and school leaders in Hertfordshire and beyond to learn more about the smartphone-free campaign “The response from parents has been phenomenal,” she said