It seemed very appropriate to the 5, 000 people who came to St Albans to celebrate Britain's first martyr this weekend that they should be led in worship by a man who has done so much for human rights and dignity in the modern world. The spontaneous applause from the pilgrims as Archbishop Desmond Tutu made his way from the site of Alban's sentence to death to his place of execution outside what is now St Albans Cathedral reflected the mood of celebration and gratitude for his presence despite advancing years.

Archbishop Tutu said, "It is an incredible, exhilarating occasion. When you hear people speak about the Church dying you say 'where are they when the Church has occasions such as this one?'"

The Rt Revd Christopher Herbert, Bishop of St Albans, said, "Archbishop Tutu is a world statesman, a man of enormous truth and compassion so to have him here is just tremendous."

When the morning Eucharist finally began after every seat had been filled at the Cathedral and many hundreds had settled down outside to listen to an audio broadcast, the Archbishop welcomed all the "beautiful people" who had come from every continent. The Archbishop presided at the service with the Venerable Mark Oakley, Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe preaching.

Applause was heard again when Mark Oakley began by paying tribute to Archbishop Tutu and the Dean of St Albans, the Very Revd Dr Jeffrey John. He said, "At a time when many of us are feeling increasingly homeless in an Anglican Church that I had always believed was built to be a large ark where every weird and wonderful animal had to budge over a bit to let another one find some straw, at such a time my energy is renewed and I believe I can hope again when I see these two brave Christians who at great cost have spoken up for human dignity in all its God-given diversity and colour."

Pilgrims spent the afternoon being entertained by chariot racing and enjoying the Cathedral Café's hospitality before crowding back into the building for evensong and a sermon from Archbishop Tutu. He drew together examples of where there had apparently been no great plan from God had in fact resulted in good arguing that, for example, without the persecution of Christians by the Romans there would have been no Alban and without the system of Apartheid no Nelson Mandela. When the sermon finished the applause began outside the cathedral with a ripple affect spreading throughout the building.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu watches as Alban makes his way on to a pontoon on the lake in Verulamium Park before an enormous spring rises to quench his thirst. The spring was provided courtesy of Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Sermons

Venerable Mark Oakley,
Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe:

• Sermon transcript (pdf)
• Recording (mp3, 3.5MB)

Archbishop Desmon Tutu

• Recording (mp3, 2.6MB)