Died 303 AD. First Christian martyr in
England. In 793 King Offa founded a
monastery on the site of Alban's martyrdom,
around which the city of St Albans grew up.
According to tradition, he was born at
Verulamium, served in the Roman army, became
a convert to Christianity after giving
shelter to a priest, and, on openly
professing his belief, was beheaded.