St. Alban's Episcopal Church is a family-sized parish named for the First Christian Martyr in England. St. Alban's, Davenport Iowa, originated in the missionary sensibilities of members of Trinity Cathedral located in central Davenport. By the late 1950s, northwest Davenport was growing significantly. A group of parishioners at Trinity Cathedral then decided to expand and build a church in this growing section for a new congregation to begin. A congregation of around 65, mostly members of Trinity, were to be the original members. Their first meeting, to choose the name of the church, was in October of 1959. The site for the building was a gift of the cathedral; and indeed the building itself was largely paid for by donations of cathedral members. The first worship service in the new building was on August 14th, 1960. A program known as The Order of Dedication was saved from the second worship service held on August 21, 1960.
By 1968, the congregation had grown in numbers and become a parish in the Diocese of Iowa. A decision was taken to build a larger facility at the present location. The building was first occupied in 1969, and dedicated in September of that year. A disastrous fire, in October of 1977 destroyed the church, though it left the parish hall. Two reminders of the fire are still visible in the church. One is the needlework phoenix framed in the main hallway. The other is the cross in the northeast corner of the parish hall. It is the original cross which hung over the alter; and it shows the twisting power of the flames which destroyed the church.
The St. Alban's congregation rallied and rebuilt the present structure. St. Alban's has been served by six priests; the Reverend Steven E. Hulme; the Reverend Jack Wolters; the Rev. Richard Moore; the Rev. Slaven Manning; the Reverend Kathleen Milligan; and most recently the Reverend Brian McVey. Perhaps more importantly, it has been blessed with a persistently high quality of lay leadership and involvement. There are many gifted folks at St. Alban's; and many opportunities for all to be involved in our life and work.
The "Amen" Prayer Garden was laid out and built in the summer of 1999, working with members of our Companion Diocese of Swaziland in Southern Africa. It is a place of beauty and reflection; and it is also a place where those who have been cremated may have their ashes scattered or buried. The only cost for this is the cost of a marker brick to show those so interred.
By 1968, the congregation had grown in numbers and become a parish in the Diocese of Iowa. A decision was taken to build a larger facility at the present location. The building was first occupied in 1969, and dedicated in September of that year. A disastrous fire, in October of 1977 destroyed the church, though it left the parish hall. Two reminders of the fire are still visible in the church. One is the needlework phoenix framed in the main hallway. The other is the cross in the northeast corner of the parish hall. It is the original cross which hung over the alter; and it shows the twisting power of the flames which destroyed the church.
The St. Alban's congregation rallied and rebuilt the present structure. St. Alban's has been served by six priests; the Reverend Steven E. Hulme; the Reverend Jack Wolters; the Rev. Richard Moore; the Rev. Slaven Manning; the Reverend Kathleen Milligan; and most recently the Reverend Brian McVey. Perhaps more importantly, it has been blessed with a persistently high quality of lay leadership and involvement. There are many gifted folks at St. Alban's; and many opportunities for all to be involved in our life and work.
The "Amen" Prayer Garden was laid out and built in the summer of 1999, working with members of our Companion Diocese of Swaziland in Southern Africa. It is a place of beauty and reflection; and it is also a place where those who have been cremated may have their ashes scattered or buried. The only cost for this is the cost of a marker brick to show those so interred.
