4:00pm Wednesday 21st June 2006
By Angela Knight
THE Archbishop of Canterbury will make a special pilgrimage to St Albans on Saturday to celebrate the life and death of Britain's first martyr.
Dr Rowan Williams will join hundreds of pilgrims from across the UK and the world, including many from Germany and Italy, at the site of Alban's trial in Roman Verulamium, near to St Albans Abbey.
They will set off on foot following the giant puppets of Alban and Amphibalus, the persecuted priest to whom he gave shelter.
Pilgrims will be accompanied by hundreds of red roses a symbol of Alban as they walk up the hill to the abbey.
The Dean of St Albans, the Very Rev Dr Jeffrey John, said: "We are delighted to welcome the archbishop to St Albans.
"The pilgrimage is a very special re-enactment of the trial and execution of Alban using larger than life puppets.
"It will be a colourful, spectacular and wonderful thanksgiving for Alban.
"The pilgrimage has been growing in size in recent years and this year the archbishop will even be able to see re-enactments of chariot racing and lion taming."
Services will be held throughout the day for people to quietly contemplate the sacrifice Alban made by helping the priest he was protecting to flee his Roman persecutors by exchanging clothes with him.
After a flogging, trial and death sentence, Alban continued to declare his Christian faith and was executed on the site of the abbey that bears his name.
Hundreds of children have been involved in the festival preparations, helping to create the chariots, giant puppets and ornate decorations for the abbey.
Shoppers can see the puppets in St Peter's Street with the city festival bus tomorrow.
For more details on the Albantide celebrations visit www.stalbans.anglican.org
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