“I am called Alban.” These were the opening words at St Alban the Martyr. It happened during a service at a shrine.
Today, we find ourselves in front of St Alban’s Christian Centre. This is a place with a story of faith and community. It reflects the changing face of London.
St Alban’s founders were known as “slum priests”. Holborn was once known for its slums. Now, the parish includes banks and legal offices. Council flats stand where slums once did. St Alban’s Church stands quietly off High Holborn. It is tucked away on a side street.
Alban was a Roman soldier. He was also Britain’s first martyr. He likely walked along High Holborn. His path led to Verulameum. That place is now St Albans. It was there he met his martyrdom.
The church building has history. William Butterfield designed it around 1860. He was a Victorian Gothic Revivalist. He championed the Oxford Movement. World War II bombs damaged much of the church. Only the tower and foundations of Butterfield’s design remain.
The chapel was added in 1891. Charles Henry Money Mileham designed it. He was an architect of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Charles Eamer Kempe created the stained glass. The chapel also survived the bombing.
The main church was restored after the war. It was redesigned from 1959-1961. Adrian and Giles Scott designed it. They were brothers from the famous Gilbert Scott dynasty. The interior is lofty but plain. Pale stone and vaults mark the space.
Hans Feibusch created striking murals inside. He was a German Jewish artist. He escaped Germany before the Holocaust. Bishop Bell of Chichester converted him to Christianity. Feibusch became known for church murals. St Alban’s hosts his largest work. It is a depiction of the Trinity in glory. It rises 64 feet above the high altar. Powerful German Expressionist colors fill the mural. Pink and orange boldly contrast.
St Alban’s has played a role in church history. It was the birthplace of Affirming Catholicism. This group sought to reconcile Anglo-Catholic tradition. They addressed issues like women priests. They also discussed attitudes toward human sexuality. St Alban’s has since become a Forward in Faith parish. This means it holds conservative views on these issues. It operates under the Bishop of Fulham’s leadership.
One visitor described a service vividly. They noted the “full-on Anglo-Catholic festal miasmas of holy smoke”. This incense filled the air. It created a thick fog reminiscent of old London. The organ’s loudness was also memorable.
The vicar, Revd Christopher Smith, led the service. The Solemnity of St Alban the Martyr was celebrated. The sermon was dense and theological. It explored grace through St Augustine and others. The main idea was: “Grace does not destroy creation, but completes it.”
After the service, there was a festival buffet. Wine and soft drinks were offered. It was a welcoming end to a long mass.
Today, St Alban’s Christian Centre continues to evolve. It serves its community. It adapts to the times while honoring its past. It stands as a testament to faith. It is a place of worship in the heart of London.