A service is held once a month on a Tuesday at 10.30am.
Day Chaplain is available to talk most days.
Opening times
The Cathedral is open daily 9am - 5pm
Special Services
Ordinations of Priests
Saturday 4 July, 2pm
Ordinations of Deacons
Sunday 5 July, 4pm
Parables from Palestine
Tuesday 7 July, 7.30pm
Highlight Events
Tower Tours
Multiple Dates
Climb 211 winding steps to our spectacular Norman Tower, the only great crossing tower left standing in the country from the 1000s. Back for summer!
Faith in Felt (Exhibition)
Saturday 4 - Thursday 16 July
An exhibition of felted artwork in the North Transept, created with women from the local Muslim community in partnership with the St Albans Arts Team.
Summer Organ Festival
Mondays 13, 20, 27 July, 6.30pm
A series of three evening recitals showcases our world-famous organ at its very best, performed by members of the Cathedral’s own Music Department.
Guitar for Gaza
Saturday 25 July, 7.30pm
Classical guitarist Noah Layzell shares an evening of beautiful music in solidarity with the people of Palestine. All proceeds to the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians.
All our events are available on our website.
Message from the Dean
Welcome to the summer edition of Alban News. Just a few weeks ago we celebrated National Volunteers’ Week. We are so grateful for the wonderful and generous service of over 580 cathedral volunteers who are a key part of sustaining our commitment to following Christ in Alban’s footsteps. Thank you for all that you do! Many of the activities highlighted in this edition are only possible because of our amazing volunteers.
In the pages that follow we can see the breadth of our Cathedral ministries, spotlight a recent royal visit, we look at our home groups, social justice work, education programmes, progress towards net zero and our commitment to the Gospel imperative to be a safer Church. We also welcome our new Canon Chancellor, the Revd Dr. Jennifer Cooper.
In May, together with members of Chapter and our Senior Management Team, I attended the Association of English Cathedrals’ national cathedrals conference at Bristol Cathedral. Held every four years, this year’s conference was entitled Living Stones : Living Hope and focused on the spiritual, social, cultural and economic impact of English Cathedrals today. These conversations were based on three pieces of independent research. Two were commissioned by the AEC. The first, by Theos, looks at the spiritual, social and cultural impact
of cathedrals. Our cathedral is one studied in this report, which you can read on the Theos website. The second, conducted by State of Life, considers the economic impact of our cathedrals through the lens of wellbeing and social impact. A calculator tool has been developed, tested on 6 cathedrals, and will be available to us all. The third, led by the Church Commissioners and conducted by BDO, has reviewed the structure, operations and enterprise of all cathedrals. As well as reporting to conference, a further meeting has shared more detailed results and observations on best practice. This research has demonstrated the vital and impactful role English Cathedrals have in our nation today, while at the same time agreeing that the cost of maintaining them cannot be met solely by cathedrals themselves. This is important ongoing work for our cathedrals and as Chair of the AEC I will keep you all updated.
Jo Kelly-Moore | The Dean
Looking Ahead
An update from Alan
Hartwell, Chief Operating Officer
on the APCM
Growing Income
As you may remember, the Cathedral operating budget in 2024 reported a record deficit, which had to be addressed in 2025 through greatly increased income generation and strict cost controls. The good news is that these measures have resulted in a significantly improved financial outcome for 2025, with the deficit reduced to £82,000.
This represents real progress toward bringing costs more closely in line with income. Total gross income rose to £3.4m, an increase of £500k on the previous year. Income from Donations, Grants and Legacies grew to £1.6m, reflecting both the generosity of supporters and the importance of philanthropic giving to the Cathedral’s mission. In line with our strategic aim to diversify revenue, income from other trading and fundraising events also grew strongly, reaching £1.1m. This includes event hire, the shop, the café, and one-off filming income, which was secured in 2025 but not in 2024. Activity across these areas was buoyant, supported by the University
of Hertfordshire graduations, an expanded programme of Candlelight Concerts and Silent Discos, thanks to a successful expansion of our concert programme managed by our Marketing Department, and an improved outcome from the Fireworks event.
The Challenge Every Cathedral Faces
Ultimately, this is about more than balancing next year's budget. The Cathedral Measures Act 2021 gave all cathedrals two responsibilities. The first is obvious: to remain a thriving place of worship and mission. The second is less often discussed: we are also responsible for conserving a Grade I listed building of national significance.
The difficulty is that nobody has really worked out how Cathedrals are supposed to pay for the second responsibility.
The good news about our revenue is that purpose one looks within our sights. We now have a platform with which to address problem two.
Alan Hartwell | Chief Operating Officer
The ancient Abbot’s door in the sunset.
Honouring 30 Years of Music with a Royal Visit
On Wednesday 24 June, we were delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester to the Cathedral, in celebration of the St Albans Cathedral Music Trust’s 30th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the senior choristers sang a short recital, and the Duchess kindly spent some considerable time talking to our choristers. One of our senior boy choristers, Adam, gave a speech, between the penultimate and final piece, and it is copied below.
Your Royal Highness, Lord-Lieutenant, Madam Dean, distinguished guests, and friends of the Music Trust,
My name is Adam, and I am a Senior Chorister in the Cathedral Choir. It is our great pleasure to welcome you and to present this short recital.
You have just heard Panis Angelicus by César Franck, and before that, For the Beauty of the Earth by Sir John Rutter. We were very lucky to sing for Sir John earlier this year, which was a really special moment for us.
I have been a chorister for several years now, and it has been one of the biggest parts of my life. It is hard to explain properly what it means to sing here so often – sometimes in front of huge congregations and sometimes to just a few people on a weekday – but my peers, whom I see almost every day, are a very big part of why I love it so much.
Being a chorister has taught me a lot. I have learned how to work hard, how to listen, how to be part of a team, and how to keep going even when I am tired or when the music is difficult. I have also learned that singing in a choir is not really about one person. You are only as strong as your weakest link; without each other, we would not be able to produce such wonderful music.
There have been so many highlights over the past few years that it is difficult to choose a favourite. Singing carols at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Sir John Rutter, recording Evensong for BBC Radio 3, singing at a service in St Paul’s Cathedral, and being part of choir tours to Italy and Germany – all of these have been once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
On behalf of the choir, I would like to thank the Music Trust for all that it does to support music at the Cathedral. We would especially like to thank you, Your Royal Highness, for making time in your busy schedule to hear us sing today as we mark 30 years of the Music Trust.
We are going to finish our short concert with John Scott’s arrangement of How Can I Keep from Singing? This is especially meaningful for my fellow senior choristers and me, as we will be leaving the choir in just a few days.
Thank you.
The Revd Dr Jennifer Cooper
On Saturday 6 June, the Bishop of Hertford licensed and installed The Revd Dr Jennifer Cooper as our new Canon Chancellor during a joyful celebration and Choral Evensong.
Let’s find out a bit more about Jennifer…
Tell us about your background. I was born and brought up in Vancouver, Canada, so the accent is Canadian! I moved to England in 1996 to study for a DPhil at Oxford and never went home. I was elected to a Fellowship at Keble College until 2022 and held that position alongside other roles, including involvement in ecumenical faith and doctrine commissions.
When were you ordained?
I was an Oxford ordinand, training at Ripon College, Cuddesdon but served my Title as a Curate in Bristol Diocese and was ordained deacon in 2006 and priested in 2007. After my curacy I became Lecturer and Tutor at The College of the Resurrection, Mirfield as the first female ordained member of staff and I carried out this role alongside various academic posts.
And what then?
Most recently I have been the Director of Initial Ministerial Education (training curates) for Durham and Newcastle Dioceses, so working from the Tweed to the Tees. In this role I was also the first Canon Theologian of Newcastle Cathedral.
So, you’ve been in the UK for a long while now?
Yes, I head back to Canada once a year to top up my accent, to recharge my soul, and to buy some more maple syrup. But I am looking forward to making St Albans my home for this next chapter of my life and ministry.
Who do you share your home with?
I live with Clementine (named after Winston Churchill’s wife), a black labrador who is in the process of adjusting to the sound of Cathedral bells and loving the green spaces of St Albans.
Favourite Bible passage?
It would be Philippians 2.5, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus”. It is a great attitude and approach to our relationships with others, and it was also the motto of The Society of the Sacred Heart which I have been involved in for many years.
Do you follow a sports team, and what’s your favourite sandwich filling?
The Montreal Canadiens (ice hockey), and my favourite sandwich filling is rocket and crayfish.
And what do you do in your free time?
I love cooking and there are few nicer things than having friends round the table for a meal. As well as ice hockey, I love grand slam tennis and will be glued to the coverage of Wimbledon. I also enjoy gardening, theatre, opera and I read voraciously.
Welcome to Sumpter Yard and to the Cathedral, Jennifer. We hope that you will be really happy and blessed in your time with us.
Mission Giving
Each year the Cathedral gives 10% of congregational giving to charities, delivering support to people or the environment in line with our Mission and Vision. Chapter has just approved this year’s recommendations from the Mission Giving Team, and the list will appear on our website as soon as the recipients have been notified. The majority of recipients are operating locally (i.e. within the diocese or near to it). One national charity is included, which is operating locally. There are a small number of international charities, three of which have strong engagement among the congregation, one which is strongly involved in environmental justice (A Rocha International) and one (CMS project in Ukraine) which supports the Christian church overseas.
We do not demand the recipients spend the money in any particular way – offering unrestricted funds allows flexibility. In all cases we see our donations as making a difference to what the recipient can do. We have asked recipients what they are most proud of in the past year. Here are just three examples from the 31 recipients this year.
SERV (Herts & Beds), delivering over 3000 blood supplies and samples, donated breast milk and other urgent medicines to hospitals and blood banks 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. “We’ve been able to
replace 3 ageing motorcycles, using designated income. This has been enabled in part, as your unrestricted support has covered significant operational costs.”
St Albans Child Contact Centre, offering a safe and neutral environment where children of separated families can spend time with a non-resident parent and/ or other relatives. “Over the past year, we are particularly proud that, despite supporting several families with highly complex circumstances, we have continued to help many parents and children progress to independent contact in the community.”
Youth Talk, providing one to one counselling to 13-25 year olds in St Albans District to vulnerable young people who suffer from anxiety, stress and depression. “We are proud to have delivered 4,846 client sessions and helped 423 young people.”
Chris Lyal | Chair of Mission Giving Team
Annual Lifestyle Survey
The Cathedral is committed to environmental justice and achieving net zero carbon. This is rooted in biblical teaching and part of our Vision and Mission. For several years we have held an Eco Church award, first Bronze, then Silver, and now we are nearly ready to apply for Gold. The Cathedral cannot do this alone but also needs us to take steps individually. To find out how we are doing, for a couple of years the Eco Team has run a ‘Lifestyle Survey’ open to us all (see previous issue). The results are interesting and encouraging, although the numbers responding were not large (but displayed commitment, since I now realise that the website links in Alban News were not active, so it wasn’t easy to get to the survey!).
Almost everyone responding this year considers an environmentally sustainable lifestyle as part of living out their Christian faith. It is perhaps unsurprising that this is not 100%; concepts of environmental justice and the place of this in Christian life are comparatively new and not always stressed. There were several questions about means of transport; most respondents try to limit use of their car when possible, including when coming to church. Currently the Eco Team is looking again at our travel plan to see if we can improve options for people coming to church. Is there someone who you could help get to a service? Most of us limit our waste by adhering to the principles of ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’, and buy ethically, limiting packaging and checking the source.
While some respondents participate in community activity with an eco agenda more do not. Of course, some of us find this more of a physical challenge than others, but there are some great opportunities locally – come along to the next Community Showcase to find out! Most people try to make their garden wildlife-friendly, but some would like more information on this – look out for a future article in Alban News!
We suggested taking the Carbon Footprint Survey at https://climatestewards.org/. We hope that some of you have, since it is very helpful. One of the respondents to our survey wrote “I was recently able to do Carbon Literacy training through work and I now think everyone who possibly can should. It’s the most valuable training I’ve done in a long time”. There are such courses available for church groups - I wonder who would be interested in joining one if we arranged it?
The Eco Team
Praying, SupportingLearning,
Palestinian Christians have appealed to people across the world to listen to their voices and to learn about the daily lives of all Palestinian people. Sabeel is a Palestinian Christian movement rooted in Liberation Theology, empowering communities to pursue justice, peace, and equality through faith, nonviolence, and inclusivity.
Each week the Sabeel Centre in Jerusalem issues a set of prayers reflecting on events both good and bad within Israel-Palestine. The Wave of Prayer ministry enables both local and international friends to pray over these regional concerns weekly.
Shared to supporters worldwide, the prayers are used in services around
Prayer’ washes over the world.
Follow the weekly prayers at: www.sabeel.org/wave-of-prayers
There will be an opportunity to learn first-hand about life in the West Bank from Fr Fadi Diab, when he visits the Cathedral on Tuesday 7 July at 7.30pm . Fr Fadi is the Rector of the Anglican Church of St Andrew, in Ramallah.
On Saturday 25 July there will be a concert of classical and contemporary guitar music by Noah Layzell at 7.30pm in the Cathedral. All proceeds from “Guitar for Gaza” will go to the registered charity Medical Aid for Palestinians.
the globe and during Sabeel’s Thursday Communion service. As each community in its own time zone lifts these concerns in prayer at noon every Thursday, a ‘Wave of
More information and tickets for both these events can be found in the What’s On section of the Cathedral website: www.stalbanscathedral.org
Language Courses
Summer Schools: Latin and Greek
Join us this summer for an exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in the ancient languages of Latin or Greek (or both!). Whether you’re continuing your language studies or rediscovering ancient texts in a fresh way, these summer schools offer inspiration, insight, and a deepened understanding — all under the guidance of expert tutor Dr John Taylor.
Greek: The Gospel of John
The fourth Gospel stands at some distance from the preceding three as a spiritual meditation on the life and significance of Jesus, rich in symbolism. We will read Chapters 1 and 2 (the prologue ‘In the beginning was the Word’, and the miracle at Cana); Chapter 6 (‘I am the bread of life’); Chapters 9 to 11 (the man born blind, the good shepherd, and the raising of Lazarus – unique to John); and Chapters 18 to 20 (the betrayal, trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.)
Latin: Virgil’s Georgics Book 4
Virgil’s four-book didactic poem about agriculture is less famous than his Aeneid but was described by John Dryden as ‘the best poem of the best poet’. Written during the turbulent years after the murder of Julius Caesar, it uses the farm as an allegory about the conduct of life and society. The climactic fourth book treats bees as an ideal citizen body of ‘little Romans’; this leads to an account of how the hero Aristaeus replaced his lost bees, with the haunting inset story of Orpheus and Eurydice.
We recommend that these are most suitable for those with intermediate level Latin and Greek.
To book, visit the What’s On pages of the website, or ask at the Box Office.
Summer Organ Festival
The Cathedral’s Music Department is hosting three summer evenings of organ music this July - three distinct nights, each with its own character, style and sense of occasion, but all centred on the extraordinary breadth of this remarkable instrument.
While the Cathedral frequently welcomes visiting performers, its own musicians are often working behind the scenes. Conceived, delivered and performed entirely in-house, the festival turns the concert spotlight onto the home team.
The series opens with The Masterpieces (13 July) as Director of Music, William Fox, presents a programme of landmark works old and new, including William Boyce’s joyous Symphony in F and Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No 5. Bach & Friends (20 July), performed by Conor McGlone, celebrates composers who inspired and who were inspired by one of the world’s greatest composers, alongside works by J. S. Bach himself. It will also be one of the final opportunities to hear Conor perform here as Organ Scholar before he takes up his new role as Assistant Director of Music at Birmingham Cathedral.
The Favourites (27 July) will be performed by Assistant Director of Music, Dewi Rees. Showcasing the organ’s place in the popular
imagination, you will hear the cinematic sweep of Star Wars, a musical depiction of a classic British summer fête, and a French composer’s take on the Westminster Chimes.
That lively programme forms part of a wider Family Music Day, designed to inspire children, families and future musicians. Across the day, visitors can explore the instrument through a handson interactive organ model (WOOFYTtickets £10), enjoy a live demonstration revealing how it works, and experience a vibrant performance of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, where narration and music bring the story to life.
Running alongside the day, the new Give it a Go course also begins on 27 July - a two-day introduction for pianists aged 10-16, offering specialist tuition on organs across the city, including the Cathedral’s own world-famous instrument.
These activities are the final events in an academic year that has been full of musical variety and excellence in liturgy and the community.
So for all they do, come and support them - they would love to see you there. To show your support and secure a ticket, visit:
www.stalbanscathedral.org/summerorgan-festival
Home FellowshipGroups & Learning
At the heart of the Cathedral’s mission is a commitment to welcome and compassion. Home groups offer fellowship, learning and support between Sunday worship.
Over Lent, 17 groups met with nearly 150 people in homes, a café, a care home, online and even a pub. Ages ranged from 6 weeks to 99 years; all were welcome.
Using material by our clergy, inspired by Tom Smail’s Windows on the Cross, groups explored different perspectives on the cross. The Gospel accounts and Paul’s Hymn to Christ deepened understanding in diverse and
meaningful discussions. Many found the material “challenging in a good way”, valuing the creative tension of different viewpoints. It made Lent a rich journey and Easter especially meaningful.
Thirteen groups continue year-round, with varied meeting times. A summer BBQ is planned, and all are welcome.
To join or start a group, contact the clergy or Dawn Knight (07795 115312; dawnandandrew@ntlworld. com), or visit www.stalbanscathedral. org/home-groups.
Having moved recently from Australia, Home groups have helped us feel at home, bringing friendship and spiritual renewal for our family.
Brian and friends admiring the dedication of the youngest member of the Home groups!
Brian Hauser | Member of the congregation and a home group
Sustainable Flowers in Churches - and our Cathedral
At the General Synod meeting in February, a motion was passed embracing the principles of the Sustainable Flowers movement: to promote the use of local, seasonal, biodegradable or compostable flowers and foliage; to encourage churches to source them locally; and to eliminate the use of floral foam (oasis) and nonreusable techniques.
The Abbey Flower Guild has already greatly reduced the use of oasis. We still use it for the main Nave arrangement, as this sometimes needs to be moved, which is not easy if using a water-filled container. We have not found it easy to adapt, but are learning to use different ‘old-school’ techniques, including wire netting, pinholders and metal ‘cages’. Wedding pedestals are now done in water, and pew ends are tied bunches. Arrangers from elsewhere have come to find out how these methods work and plan to use some of them in their own churches. We also visit other churches to demonstrate them.
Most of the flowers we use are fresh, but some silk flowers and other artificial material are used seasonally with real flowers and foliage. They will be reused over many years, making them more sustainable than they might appear. British flowers are used when available and suitable –flowers need to be long-stemmed, long-lasting and of specific colours for the different seasons of the church’s year. However, our climate means that flowers often depend on heated greenhouses and highenergy inputs, with a higher overall environmental impact than those grown outdoors in warmer climates and transported efficiently.
Another important issue to be considered is the global effect. In countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia and Colombia, floriculture is a vital part of the economy, providing income, healthcare, education and stability for families and communities, especially women. Environmental stewardship cannot be separated from economic justice, and we will continue to try to balance them.
Linda Waller | Flower Guild
Following Christ in Alban’s Footsteps
St Albans Cathedral is the United Kingdom’s oldest site of continuous Christian worship, inspired by Alban, Britain’s first saint and martyr.
Our vision and work today is inspired by his story and the Gospel he lived and proclaimed, and so we are committed to:
Welcome & Compassion
Worship & Witness
Courage & Justice
Leadership & Service
Opening times
The Cathedral is open daily 9am – 5pm.
Please donate generously
We need to raise £8,000 a day to keep this Cathedral open.
Tickets
Book online at www.stalbanscathedral.org, in-person at our Box Office, located in the Cathedral Shop, or call 01727 890290.
For the latest information visit our website and sign up for our What’s On newsletter.
