Background Information
The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban is the mother church of the Diocese of St Albans which serves the people of Hertfordshire,
Bedfordshire, the Borough of Luton and parts of the London Borough of
Barnet, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire. St Albans is an ancient market town and the Cathedral is built on the site of the martyrdom of St Alban, Britain’s first Christian martyr. It still houses the shrine of St Alban and is a major site of Christian pilgrimage to this day. The city of St Albans is very close to London but has kept a separate identity and its sense of local community is still very strong. Its close proximity to the M1 and M25 motorways, airports at
Luton, Heathrow and Stansted and a fast train link into London St
Pancras (20 minutes) have made it a very desirable place to live.
The Benedictine monastery (founded in 793) was dissolved in 1539 and became the parish church, which it remains today. It became a Cathedral in 1877 and it is in this dual role of a parish and cathedral church that it is a centre of worship and mission with a high local and national profile. There is a large and active congregation (some 1500 strong).
Its musical tradition is renowned throughout the world, especially through the biennial International Organ Festival at St Albans, founded by Peter Hurford in 1963. It hosts the most prestigious organ competition in Europe and the Cathedral and the cathedral organ are the centrepieces of the festival. There is also an award-winning
Education Centre and ecumenical links are strong with honorary chaplains from the Roman Catholic, Free Church, Lutheran and Russian
Orthodox traditions regularly conducting services at the Cathedral for their congregations.
The work of the Cathedral is sustained by over 50 full and part-time staff and some 1000 volunteers. The Cathedral is also supported by a number of independent trusts and bodies. Some are concerned only with raising funds for a particular aspect of the Cathedral’s life; others finance and manage functions in support of the Cathedral’s mission.
Further information about the Cathedral can be found on our web site: www.stalbanscathedral.org.
The Cathedral exists to glorify God and proclaim Christ’s message of love. We aim to:
- be a community that reflects Jesus’ teaching;
- share the faith and grow in faith;
- deepen our unity with fellow Christians;
- stand with Saint Alban for truth and justice;
- offer a warm welcome to all;
- serve the Bishop and Diocese as their Cathedral Church;
- enhance and conserve this holy place.
Introduction: The Cathedral Archive
The function of the Archive is to collect, manage and preserve the records of the St Albans Cathedral, and to make the information they contain available for administrative and (where appropriate) for research purposes. It strives to provide adequate and appropriate conditions for the storage, security and preservation of materials that highlight important aspects of the history and development of St

Albans Cathedral.
The Archive includes correspondence, financial and administrative records, architect’s drawings and specifications, photographs, 35mm slides, maps, pictures and engravings, and items such as charters, cartularies, copies of some monastic records, research papers and theses.
The Archive arranges and describes these materials according to recognised principles and makes them available to bona fide researchers unless access is restricted by legal requirements or by written agreements with donors. Many older records and papers have been transferred to HALS (Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies,
County Hall, Hertford).
In addition to the Archives, the Cathedral contains limited collections of books and ephemera in the so-called ‘Beardsmore
Collection’, held in the Library, and in a further upstairs storeroom. The Cathedral is in the process of rationalizing these collections, and, through the Adult Learning Officer, is also in discussion with the Museum of St Albans and SAHAAS (St Albans and
Hertfordshire Architectural and Historical Society) about a project to coordinate and rationalise their respective collections.
The Role of the Archivist
 To collect, manage and preserve the records of the Cathedral.
 To arrange, describe and make available the information they contain for administrative and research purposes, according to recognised principles.
 To determine according to an agreed policy which documents should be available to the public.
 To add any available material that highlights important aspects of the history and development of St Albans Cathedral.
 To repair such original paintings, drawings, prints and books as needed.
 To try to ensure adequate and appropriate conditions for the storage, security and preservation of such materials.
 To investigate with the Adult Learning Officer ways of improving digital records and access.
 Within the context of the Library team to work towards a rationalization of the various historic collections held within the
Cathedral.
 To liaise with other historic collections in St Albans
 From time to time, to supervise, with the Adult Learning Officer, interns or other placements, interested in working with the
Cathedral’s collections.
The current Archivist estimates that the role requires about 3 half days per week. There may be scope for sharing time or different aspects of the role between different volunteers.
Responsibility
The Archivist will be part of the library team, chaired by the Adult
Learning Officer, and ultimately responsible to the Canon Chancellor.
It is intended to identify further volunteers to work alongside the
Archivist. It is itself a voluntary role.
Role Requirement:

 General interest in the history of the Abbey and Cathedral.
 Computer skills including an ability to work with databases, digitization, electronic records and websites.
 Ability to produce digital material from slides and photographs, and (if possible) to take digital photographs on request.
 Research and writing skills.
 Attention to detail.
 Creative problem solver.
 Natural curiosity.
 Ability to work alone but also as part of a team.
 Fitness to scale a spiral stone staircase of 45 steep steps.
Training & Support
 Initial induction will be given by the outgoing Archivist. Ongoing training will be offered as appropriate, with support from the Adult
Learning Officer and Canon Chancellor.
Persons interested in this role are invited to contact either Canon
Kevin Walton or the Adult Learning Officer (Dr Clare Coombe) at canon@stalbanscathedral.org
or alo@stalbanscathedral.org
, with an indication of relevant interests and previous experience. They will then be invited for an informal discussion.