St. Alban the Martyr

Melchizedek Blesses Abram


This page is part of our project "Revealing St Alban's Hidden Heritage" supported by a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to players of The National Lottery.


The top panel of the left hand light depicts Abram (later to be renamed Abraham) with his armed followers, who are returning from rescuing his nephew Lot and his companions from captivity, meeting Melchizedek, who gives him bread and wine, saying, "Blessed be Abram and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand."
The scroll held by the angel beneath the scene reads "Genesis XIV 18" which says "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God". Here Melchizedek is robed like a bishop and offers the chalice of wine and bread to the kneeling Abram, foreshadowing of Holy Communion. Abram gave Melchizedek a tithe of all the spoils that he has taken in battle.

Next look at the lower left panel, which shows Joshua and the Captain of the Lord's Host.