The Cathedral of St. Albans
contains two important shrines, St. Albans shrine and the shrine of St
Amphibalus. The latter was an early Christian Evangelist, a fugitive from Roman
persecution, who converted Alban to Christianity in the middle of the 3rd
century.
This shrine pedestal of
Totternhoe stone was the gift of the sacrist Ralph Witechurch whose initials
can be seen in the fretwork patterns around the base. Traces of the original
colouring remain at the top. Unfortunately, at the dissolution, the relics were
destroyed and the pedestal smashed. The broken pieces of the pedestal were used
as builders’ rubble and only recovered and reassembled in 1872 under the
direction of Sir George Gilbert Scott.
It is a great shame that the
relics were destroyed; nevertheless, we should be reminded, by the existence of
this shrine, of the importance of people such as Amphibalus, who supported,
promoted and died for their faith.
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