The Rev. Donald J. Cheetham The Rev. Robert Renouf The Rev. Herman Badecker The Rev. John Covington The Rev. Frederick W. Schraplau St. Alban’s became a parish in 1951, when St. Anne’s in Great Kills merged with Holy Comforter, Eltingville. Hence, its roots go back as far as 1865, when a group of farmers joined together to form Holy Comforter, and erected a small wooden stick gothic structure at the present site of the South Shore YMCA on Richmond Avenue. In 1873, this building was divided, moved to the present location, and enlarged with the transepts and tower. St. Alban’s was designed by architect Richard Mitchell Upjohn (1828-1903), son of the noted church architect and Gothic Revivalist Richard Upjohn (1802-1878). Although born in Shaftesbury, England, R.M. Upjohn lived most of his life in Brooklyn. He entered his father's architectural firm in 1846. R.M. Upjohn is known primarily for his Victorian Gothic Style, which uses eccentric angular details. A major portion of the Upjohn’s practice consisted of the design of small Gothic Revival style churches for Episcopal parishes of modest means located in rural areas. Most were made of wood and the exterior of many, like St. Alban’s, have the board-and-battan siding. St. Alban’s is a New York State Landmark, a New York City Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The interior of the church was renovated in the 1980's to meet new liturgical practices which use a freestanding altar. At that time the exterior was painted in authentic Victorian colors, which did away with the all white palette. The Story of Alban Alban was a soldier in the Roman army in the early 3rd century; he was stationed at Verulamium, a city about 20 miles northeast of London, now called St. Alban’s. He gave shelter to a fugitive Christian priest, and was converted and baptized by him. When soldiers came to search the house Alban disguised himself as the priest and was arrested, enabling the priest to escape. Alban was brought before the town magistrates where he refused to denounce his new faith, saying ‘I worship and adore the true and living God’. He was condemned to death and beheaded on the hillside where the Cathedral of St. Alban’s now stands. St. Alban’s Photo Gallery Want to learn more about the Episcopal Church, other churches called St. Alban’s, and more? Follow these links: St. Alban's Abbey & Cathedral The Espiscopal Diocese of New York