St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral, officially the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban but often referred to locally as "the Abbey", is a Church of England cathedral in St Albans, England.
| St Albans Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban | |
St Albans Abbey viewed from the south west | |
St Albans Cathedral Shown within Hertfordshire | |
| 51°45′02″N 0°20′32″W | |
| Location | St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 1BY |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Tradition | Liberal Catholic |
| Website | stalbanscathedral.org |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 793 |
| Dedication | St Alban |
| Consecrated | 28 December 1115 |
| Cult(s) present | Saint Alban |
| Relics held | Saints Alban, Amphibalus |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Cathedral |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 8 May 1950 |
| Style | Norman, Romanesque, Gothic |
| Years built | 1077–1893 |
| Groundbreaking | 1005 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 167.8 metres (551 ft) |
| Nave length | 85 metres (279 ft) |
| Nave width | 23 metres (75 ft) |
| Width across transepts | 58.5 metres (192 ft) |
| Height | 43.9 metres (144 ft) |
| Nave height | 20.2 metres (66 ft) |
| Number of towers | 1 |
| Tower height | 43.9 metres (144 ft) |
| Bells | 12 (2010) |
| Tenor bell weight | 21-0-19 (1075kg) |
| Administration | |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Diocese | St Albans (since 1877) |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Alan Smith |
| Dean | Jo Kelly-Moore |
| Subdean | vacant |
| Precentor | Jonathan Lloyd (Minor Canon) |
| Canon Chancellor | Kevin Walton |
| Canon(s) | Tim Bull (Dir. Ministry) Tim Lomax (Dir. of Mission) 1 vacancy (Sub-Dean) |
| Chaplain(s) | Calum Zuckert (Minor Canon & Youth Chaplain) |
| Laity | |
| Director of music | Andrew Lucas |
| Organist(s) | Tom Winpenny |
| Official name | St Albans Abbey, Site of Conventual Buildings |
| Reference no. | 1003526 |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
| Official name | Abbey Church of St Alban |
| Designated | 8 May 1950 |
| Reference no. | 1103163 |
Much of its architecture dates from Norman times. It ceased to be an abbey following its dissolution in the 16th century and became a cathedral in 1877. Although legally a cathedral church, it differs in certain particulars from most other cathedrals in England, being also used as a parish church, of which the dean is rector with the same powers, responsibilities and duties as that of any other parish. At 85 metres long, it has the longest nave of any cathedral in England.
Probably founded in the 8th century, the present building is Norman or Romanesque architecture of the 11th century, with Gothic and 19th-century additions.