Alban Pilgrimage and Festival 2026
On Saturday 20th June, Deputy Lieutenant Adam K Ginder represented and deputised for the Lord Lieutenant Robert Voss at the St. Albans’ Alban Pilgrimage and Festival. The parade through the city streets portrayed the story of Alban, Britain’s first Saint and depicted the trials and execution he received circa 1700 years ago, before being recognised as a Saint for his actions. The event was also attended by a representative from Bedfordshire Lieutenancy, which falls into the Diocese of St. Albans, the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Anna Rankin, the Mayor of St. Albans, Matt Fisher, the Chair of Hertfordshire County Council, Sandy Wilkinson, the Bishops of Bedford and Hertford, the Dean and Clergy from St. Albans Cathedral, and fellow Deputy, past High Sherriff and former Mayor of St. Albans, Annie Brewster.
The pilgrimage was followed by a Festival Service in the Cathedral, where those attending heard from the charity Stop the Traffik. The service was also attended by the Bishop of Guyana and the Bishop of Lima, Peru. Pilgrims from St. Albans Episcopal Church, in Monroe, Georgia, USA who had also flown in for the event. The city was filled with stalls and exhibits throughout the day, which concluded with Evensong in the Abbey.