Mouse Bishop of St Albans
@MouseBishop
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One of Hertfordshire’s leading ecclesiastical rodents, who enjoys sharing historical tidbits on his travels and tending to his mischief.
St Albans, Hertfordshire
Joined April 2021
Imagine you were a 22-year-old who helped to build St Albans’ abbey gateway in ~1365. You would’ve already survived the Black Death (twice) and seen the captured French King paraded through the town, with the Peasants’ Revolt still to come before you turned 40. #History
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Delighted to see one of the fledgling peregrine falcons perched atop the cathedral. Gorgeous birds.
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You can find out more about the Friends of St Albans Cathedral at the website below, and perhaps even consider joining yours truly in becoming a Friend? 😊🐭🙏.
stalbanscathedral.org
The Friends are an independent charity providing financial and practical support to St Albans Cathedral. They play a vital role in enabling the life and work of our glorious building to flourish and...
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It’s been one month since we had giant puppets marching through the streets for the Alban Pilgrimage! My toddler keeps asking where they’ve gone. Still, only 11 months to the next one, eh? Huge thanks to the Friends of St Albans Cathedral, who fund the whole thing.
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The name “Cotswolds” probably reflects the area’s abundance of sheep and hills, with ‘cot’ meaning sheep enclosure and ‘wold’ meaning high ground. While some say it may instead stem from an otherwise unknown Anglo-Saxon chieftain called Cod, that sounds a bit fishy to me…
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My school art teacher once gave me the advice that when you visit an exhibition don’t just wander round casually looking at every piece. Find one that speaks to you in some way and spend some quality time with it. I’ve found that a very useful tip.
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“Firm Foundations: St Albans School of Art” is a FREE exhibition and runs in the Weston Gallery at St Albans Museum + Gallery until 21 September. Some very interesting pieces, both artistic and historic, and information about the school and its successors.
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This year marks 150 years since the foundation of the St Albans School of Art. Renowned for its innovative teaching methods, the School boasts a Turner Prize winner amongst its alumni, and is now part of Herts Uni. Check out the free exhibit about it at the Town Hall!
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Happy Independence Day to all my American friends and followers! The first President to live in the White House was John Adams, who moved in with his wife Abigail in 1800. Adams said he hoped “none but honest and wise men [shall] ever rule under this roof.”
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It was not an easy task for Rowena, her gardener Jack Rawlings, or the others involved in realising her vision. Hard work was required to carve out the venue - not just initially, but again after the war the army took over the area in the war. But what a legacy they left. 👏.
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After moving to Cornwall, Rowena Cade helped make costumes for a local drama group - and in 1932 offered for them to perform The Tempest in her dramatic cliffside garden. Almost a century later, and the breathtaking Minack Theatre continues to pull in the crowds.
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I saw this advert for tourist trips out of London. Not a bad selection for a first-time visitor to England, but St Albans and Cambridge are two glaring omissions for me! What would you add?
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John Harvard was baptised here, in what is now Southwark cathedral, in 1607. Tragically, he died of tuberculosis shortly after emigrating to Massachusetts, aged just 30. In his will, he left such a generous bequest to a local college that it took his name: Harvard.
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In the photo, I’m stood by the giant puppet of St Alban, in front of the high altar screen in the cathedral, after yesterday’s pilgrimage parade. Once again, a huge thank you to everyone who helped put on such a wonderful event.
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Today, we remember St Alban. He converted to Christianity while helping a priest escape persecution, and was beheaded when he refused to renounce his new faith. His name lives on in our city, and his sacrifice and bravery still resonate over 1,700 years later.
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The parade is over but the celebrations continue with the festival this afternoon, with plenty happening at the orchard and city centre. A huge thank you to everyone who makes this wonderful day happen!!!
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And here we are in front of the cathedral, awaiting the grisly denouement. St Alban shall be beheaded, but his name and his inspiring example shall live on and be commemorated here across the centuries!
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No, it went the same way as for the last 1,725 or so years! Alban is condemned and we’re off to the abbey to witness his execution…
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The magistrate is about to give his judgement on St Alban for his crime of protecting the priest Amphibalus… maybe this year he’ll be more lenient? 😬
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And they’re off! How nice to see the three angels paying tribute to the arrival of the Empire Windrush on a St Alban’s Day in the 1940s.
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