Laurence Attewill, born in St Albans, developed a profound love of, and fascination with, St Albans Abbey, where he was a chorister. This association, which was continued at St Albans School, was maintained throughout his career as a water engineer by strong familial ties with St Albans. He is not an academic or a professional historian and his only qualifications for writing this book are a deep interest in church history, music, art and architecture and a passion for his subject.