Alban, St. Protomartyr of Britain, known from early medieval hagiographies. These portray him as a Roman officer who sheltered a priest during one of the persecutions and was martyred at Verulamium. No date is given but dates in the early and the late 3rd cent. have been put forward. The description of the trial and passion of Alban reflects the actual topography of Verulamium and the medieval St Albans abbey may perpetuate the site of his death or burial; the shrine was in existence to be visited by Bishop Germanus of Auxerre in 429.

Alan Simon Esmonde Cleary

Alban, St. The first Christian martyr in Britain. The date of his death is either c.209 or c.305. He was converted to Christianity by a fugitive priest he sheltered, in whose cloak he was arrested. He was subsequently put to death. His shrine is in St Albans Abbey. Feast day, 20 June.

St Alban (3rd century), the first British Christian martyr, a native of Verulamium (now St Albans). Alban was converted and baptized by a fugitive priest whom he sheltered. When soldiers searched his house, he put on the priest's cloak and was arrested and condemned to death. His feast day is 22 June.

Alban, Saint First British martyr, from the Roman town of Verulamium (now St Albans). He was killed for hiding a Christian priest from the Romans. In 797, King Offa founded an abbey on the site of Alban's execution. His feast day is June 22.