St Michael's Church
Sir Francis Bacon
In 948 AD, the abbot of St Albans Abbey built three churches (St Michael's, St Stephen's and St Peter's - all still standing to-day) on the three main roads into the town. Here pilgrims would prepare themselves for their visit to the Shrine of St Alban in the great Abbey church up on the hill.
St Michael's was built on the site of the Law Courts of the Roman City of Verulamium, the very spot where Alban had been condemned to die. The walls of the Saxon church remain to-day, the ancient brick arches indicating the position of the church's original windows. Full details of the development of the building are displayed in the church.
Perhaps its most notable feature is the monument to Sir Francis Bacon, scientist, philosopher and Jacobean Lord Chancellor of England. He owned the nearby Gorhambury estate and, it was his wish to be buried in his parish church, St Michael's.
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St Michael's was built on the site of the Law Courts of the Roman City of Verulamium, the very spot where Alban had been condemned to die. The walls of the Saxon church remain to-day, the ancient brick arches indicating the position of the church's original windows. Full details of the development of the building are displayed in the church.
Perhaps its most notable feature is the monument to Sir Francis Bacon, scientist, philosopher and Jacobean Lord Chancellor of England. He owned the nearby Gorhambury estate and, it was his wish to be buried in his parish church, St Michael's.
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