The first Episcopal service in Albany was held on July 3, 1853 at the Monteith home. The cornerstone of the first church building was laid on May 13, 1875 on land given partly by the Monteiths at 6th and Lyon Streets (now the Albany Democrat-Herald). Named St. Peter's, it was the first public building in Albany. The Parish Hall was constructed first. The main church was completed, and the church admitted to the diocese as St. Peter's Mission in 1891.

In the early 1900s, St. Peter's had a series of resident priests with long vacancies between them. In the twenties and thirties, the church became an "unorganized mission" and the building was subsequently rented as a dwelling. In 1938 it was re-admitted to the diocese as an Organized Mission. In 1951 the church at Queen and Umatilla Streets was purchased from Mission Covenant Church for $39,500. That was a year of firsts: first confirmation class, first Easter service, first marriage, first baptism, first funeral. In 1953 St. Peter's was admitted to Convention as a Parish. Fr. James Kingsley, the first Rector, presided over the Centennial Celebration.

Throughout the fifties and sixties, the church grew rapidly. In 1962 Fr. John Power became Rector and had to deal with the pressure for, and conflict over, building expansion. In 1971, Fr. Joseph Russell became Rector, bringing with him a passion for education and guitar Eucharists!

In 1985 Fr. Eugene Horn became Rector. Fr. Horn was a passionate Charismatic, bringing him into increasing conflict with the more traditional members of the Parish. From 1985 to 1988, most "traditionals" left and were replaced (in part) by charismatics. The name was changed to Church of the Holy Spirit and proclaimed an "Anglican Renewal Center." Soon after that, the congregation left the Episcopal Church.

In 1988 a small group of those more traditional parishioners who had left met to re-establish an Episcopal congregation. In May 1990 the church was admitted to Convention as the "Albany Episcopal Mission" and in January 1991 became St. Alban's. We met regularly in several local churches with Fr. Herbert Barrall as our first Vicar. In 1993 we purchased and renovated the Missionary Baptist Church building at Hill and Queen Streets with a successful building fund drive and loan from the diocese. Fr. Charles Dickey became our second, and first resident, Vicar.

Throughout the mid-1990s the church grew both numerically and organizationally. In 1998 the property dispute regarding the old St. Peter's church was settled and Fr. Dickey retired, necessitating a search process for his successor. In 1999, while the search process continued, the St. Peter's property was sold and a few items returned to the congregation, notably the bell now outside the entrance which calls us to worship each week. Landscaping and new sidewalks were added. In 2001 the mortgage was paid off and a decision was made to search for a full-time, rather than a part-time, Vicar.

In 2002 Fr. Tom Sramek, Jr. joined us as our first full-time Vicar and, responding to people's desire that the chruch grow, began to design and impliment an evangelism plan in consultation with the members of the congregation. That plan has resulted in rennovations of our Narthex (entryway), increased advertising, and in a rennovated preschool and nursery area. In February 2003 we celebrated 10 years of St. Alban's in this building and in September 2003 celebrated 150 years of the Episcopal Church in Albany.

In 2007 we are beginning to dicern and live into a compelling vision for the future. Called Vision 2010, this vision focuses on expanding worship access and variety, reaching out and drawing in people though service in Christ's name, and more boldly proclaiming the good news of God's redeeming work in and through us. Come catch the vision!