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The History of
St. Alban
and
St. Alban's
Episcopal Church, St. Pete
Beach, Florida
Alban – The First
British Saint
Alban is the
earliest Christian in Britain who is known by name. He is also, by
tradition, the first British martyr. Alban was a soldier in the
Roman army stationed in Verulamium, a city about twenty miles
northeast of London, now called St. Alban’s. He gave shelter to a
Christian priest who was fleeing from persecution, and was converted
by the priest. When officers came to Alban’s house, he dressed
himself in the garments of the priest and gave himself up. Alban
was tortured and martyred in place of the priest, on the hilltop
where the Cathedral Abbey of St. Alban now stands. Recent studies
suggest that the year was 209.
The site of Alban’s martyrdom soon became a shrine. A monastery was established there about the year 793, and in the high Middle Ages St. Alban’s ranked as the premier Abbey in England. The great Norman building, began in 1077, now stands as the cathedral of the Diocese of St. Alban’s. It is the second longest church in England.
The History of St. Alban's St. Pete Beach Episcopal Church
In 1950, a group of faithful and devoted Episcopalians,
who lived on the Gulf Beaches, drove into our town for worship, and
began meeting in a local beach community clubhouse. This small
group chose to worship by the name of St. Ambrose. In 1951, a
majority of the congregation voted to change the name of St. Ambrose
to Church of the Advent. In 1951 and 1952, properties at 85th
Avenue and Boca Ciega Drive, and 84th Avenue and Blind
Pass were purchased and plans were approved for the construction of
the parish hall/church building. In 1956, Construction plans were
approved to build the Education Facility. In October 1959, St.
Alban’s was the final name adopted for the church. St. Alban’s had
grown to almost 700 communicants by 1966. In June 1969 ground was
broken for the new church building on Blind Pass Road.
In 1974, The Rev. J. Kevin Stanley was called by the Vestry to become rector, replacing the long standing Rector, Fr.. John F. Hamblin. Fr. Stanley was a great leader of our parish family until 1988 when his failing health forced him to retire as Rector. In October 1989, St. Alban’s brought Fr. Larry Thornton to serve as the new Rector. In another unfortunate turn, after just three faithful years with us, he was regretfully forced into retirement by a lengthy battle with cancer. Over a two year period St. Alban’s searched for a new Rector, and in September 1994, Fr. James Lynn McDowell was appointed to the position. Fr. McDowell served St. Alban’s for 10 years, until his decision to retire after many years of service to not just St. Alban’s, but to the Episcopal Church as a whole.
We were blessed to have Fr. Julian Cave serve