There were probably Christians in the British Isles already in the first
century. However, Alban is the first recorded Christian martyr. The
traditional date of his death is 304, during the persecution under the
Emperor Diocletian; but many scholars now date it as around 209, during
the persecution under the Emperor Septimius Severus. Alban was a pagan,
and a soldier in the Roman Army. He gave shelter to a Christian priest
who was fleeing from arrest, and in the next few days the two talked at
length, and Alban became a Christian. When officers came in search of the
priest, Alban met them, dressed in the priest's cloak, and they mistook
him for the priest and arrested him. He refused to renounce his new
faith, and was beheaded. He thus became the first Christian martyr in
Britain. The second was the executioner who was to kill him, but who
heard his testimony and was so impressed that he became a Christian on
the spot, and refused to kill Alban. The third was the priest, who when
he learned that Alban had been arrested in his place, hurried to the
court in the hope of saving Alban by turning himself in. The place of
their deaths is near the site of St. Alban's Cathedral today.
Almighty God, by whose grace and power thy holy martyr Alban Triumphed over suffering and was faithful even unto death: Grant to us, who now remember him with thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to thee in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Alban Triumphed over suffering and was faithful even unto death: Grant to us, who now remember him with thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Psalm 34:1-8 or 31:1-5
1 John 3:13-16
Matthew 10:34-42 (St3)