HUNDREDS of people lined the streets of St Albans over the weekend (Saturday, June 22, to Sunday, June 23) to pay homage to Britain's first Christian martyr.

The city centre was buzzing with activity as visitors celebrated St Alban's Day with morris dancing, ale tasting and mock court trials.

St Albans Crown Court opened its doors to the public who took part in mock hearings, got electronically tagged and took a trip down to the dreaded cells.

Outside town crier, Mr Martin Hallett , proclaimed the story of St Alban to the masses. Others enjoyed a performance by the Wicket Brood traditional morris dancers.

St Albans Mayor Keith Stammers was joined by Mr Melvyn Teare, city centre manager, on a walkabout of the city handing out red roses to visitors.

They also sampled a special St Albans Ale brewed by Mr Viv Davies Farmer's Boy landlord to mark St Alban's Day.

"The weekend turned out to be a great success. Mr Davies brewed 70 gallons of the special Alban Ale for the weekend and we all tried it out. It was very good," said Mr Teare.

"The Mayor and I then walked around the city handing out red roses to people who had travelled to St Albans."

He said the red rose was significant to the city because when St Alban's head was chopped off red roses grew up from the ground where his blood fell.

Around 150 pilgrims were led in procession to the abbey by the Bishop of St Albans, the Right Reverend Christopher Herbert, and the Dean of St Albans, the Very Reverend Christopher Lewis.

They joined more than 600 worshippers gathered in the abbey's nave for a special Festival Sung Eucharist.

A cathedral girls' choir from Bodo, Norway, sang in the abbey's nave and the Annual Festival Evensong and Friends' Day Service.

On Sunday, hundreds of children gathered for the annual open-air Rose Service in the Abbey Orchard.

The children were led in procession from the abbey to the Abbey Orchard before taking part in an informal service, and they then placed roses on the shrine.

The youngsters also played games on the grass and carried out craft activities inside the abbey.

A collection was taken at the service for the Keech Children's Hospice, near Luton.

"It was a great success. It was a special weekend for the abbey and for the Diocese of St Albans," said Mr Peter Crumpler, of the Diocese of St Albans.

The celebrations coincided with the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of St Albans. The Bishop of St Albans is visiting deaneries throughout the year to share in a united service, preach and answer questions from parishioners.

On Saturday, June 29, a bone believed to be a relic of St Alban will be presented to St Albans Cathedral by a party the Catholic church of St Pantaleon, in Germany.

June 27, 2002 11:30