St Albans Cathedral (formerly St Albans Abbey, officially The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban) is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At 84 metres (276 ft), its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England. With much of its present architecture dating from Norman times, it became a cathedral in 1877 and is the second longest cathedral in the United Kingdom (after Winchester). Local residents often call it "the abbey", although the present cathedral represents only the church of the old Benedictine abbey.
The abbey church, although legally a cathedral church, differs in certain particulars from most of the other cathedrals in England: it is also used as a parish church, of which the dean is rector. He has the same powers, responsibilities and duties as the rector of any other parish.
Read more about St Albans Cathedral: Britain's First Christian Martyr, History of The Abbey and Cathedral, Modern Times, Music and Choirs, Burials
Famous quotes containing the word cathedral:
“... the first cathedral you see remains with you forever as the cathedral of the world.”
—M. E. W. Sherwood (1826–1903)