Parish of St Alban the Martyr, Holborn , Church of England

The church of Saint Alban the Martyr is situated on Baldwin Gardens, off Grays Inn Road. It was constructed in 1863, designed by William Butterfield. The church building was severely damaged by enemy action in 1941; but was reconstructed to the designs of Adrian Gilbert Scott. The new church building was consecrated in 1961. The parish was united with that of Saint Peter's, Saffron Hill, in 1952. The area served by the church was poor and densely populated, and various missions and charitable programmes were established by the clergy and congregation; particularly curate Arthur Henry Stanton (1839-1913).

Reverend Alexander Heriot Mackonochie, 1825-1887, was ordained as perpetual curate at St Alban the Martyr in January 1862. He introduced various 'ritualistic', catholic elements to services, which prompted strict protestant John Martin to launch a lawsuit against him in 1867. The trial took place in the Court of Arches under the Church Discipline Act of 1840. Mackonochie was charged with elevating the host above his head, using a mixed chalice and altar lights, censing things and persons, and kneeling during the prayer of consecration. He was found guilty and suspended from office for three months. However, he did not cease the practices and in March 1874 a new lawsuit was brought by the Church Association, which resulted in a six-week suspension; while in June 1878 he was suspended for three years. Further proceedings in 1882 were halted by his resignation. More proceedings were launched against him in his new church and he resigned after only a year; returning to Saint Alban's as a freelance assistant. (Source of information: Rosemary Mitchell, 'Mackonochie, Alexander Heriot (1825-1887)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.)