Alban lived the Romano-British town of Verulam in the early fourth century. One June, perhaps in 305, a priest fleeing Emperor Diocletian’s persecution of Christians took shelter with Alban. Such was his preaching that not only was Alban baptised, he volunteered to take the priest’s place at trial. He was duly arrested, and brought before a clearly unsympathetic judge.

Alban’s defiance saw him sentenced to execution on a nearby hill. On the way, a river dried up to let him pass; at the place of execution, water sprang up at his command. Even these wonders did not save him; but his executioner chose martyrdom alongside him, and afterwards the judge put no more Christians to death.

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