Submitted By Mrs. Janet Bartlett - Church Historian
The establishment of St. Alban's Mission, in 1921, by the Church of St. Clement, El Paso, was the fulfillment of plans which were first laid in the previous year. In its' budget for 1920 were monies for the purchase of a site at Elm and Wheeling Streets. Ground-breaking for the chapel occurred on Easter Sunday, 1921.
The Reverend Corwin C. Miller was appointed Vicar of St. Alban's, his duties beginning September 1921, and services were started in the two-story building before it's full completion. Parish Status was assumed March 8, 1939. A new edifice was built during 1949-1950 on the site, with services beginning in 1950. The new church was Consecrated by the Rt. C. J. Kinsolving, D.D., Bishop, on Sunday, February 28, 1960. The original Chapel of 1921, and the adjacent residence, which was formally the Rectory, were razed in May and June of 1962. The corner-stone for the Parish House, including Twiss Hall, was laid on Sunday, September 23, 1962. Dedication Services for the Parish House occurred on Sunday, February 3, 1963.
St. Alban's Episcopal Church was named for a Roman soldier who lived outside of London during the third century A.D. After accepting the Christian faith, he traded his clothing with a priest so that the priest might escape other soldiers who sought to kill him. Dressed as the priest, Alban was captured. During his trial, Alban boldly professed his faith before his accusers and was executed in the priest's place. At that time he became the first Christian martyr in Britain. Later he was canonized by the Church. Like Christ, he sacrificed his own life for another.
