St. Alban’s Centre is a picturesque heritage site in Adolphustown, originally built in 1884 as a United Empire Loyalist memorial church. This cultural hub features 64 rare Minton commemorative tiles and an upside-down ship ceiling. Visitors can enjoy church tours, a seasonal outdoor café, and community events that celebrate the unique history & heritage of the region.
The cornerstone for St. Alban the Martyr UEL Memorial Church was laid in 1884, exactly one hundred years after the first Loyalists landed at Adolphus Reach. Inside, the ceiling is built to look like the hull of an upside-down ship, and 64 encaustic Minton tiles ring the walls, each one memorializing an early settler family. Tiles of this quality exist in only one other place, the U.S. Congress. The building operates now as St. Alban’s Centre, and the mix of what goes on here is hard to predict. Church tours one afternoon, an escape room the next, live concerts on weekends, and a used book room and permanent garage sale that keep people browsing between events. There is a seasonal outdoor café running from May to October, and a “Liberty Bell” inside that visitors are invited to ring.
What to Expect
The building pulls you in with the architecture and the tiles, but people tend to stay for everything else. The escape room, concerts, and special events have become draws for locals and visitors alike, and the book room and permanent garage sale give you a reason to wander.
Here’s What’s Different
- Encaustic Minton tiles of a quality found elsewhere only in Washington, D.C.
- A ceiling designed to resemble the hull of an upside-down ship.
- Its own “Liberty Bell” that visitors are invited to ring.
Good to Know
- The outdoor café and permanent garage sale are popular stops for travellers moving between the Glenora Ferry and Bath. The centre also runs workshops and cultural performances throughout the year.
- LOCAL TIP
- Take your time with the 64 Minton tiles inside the church. They are world-class examples of 19th-century commemorative craftsmanship and easy to rush past if you are not looking.
- FAST FACTS
- The cornerstone was laid on the centennial of the first Loyalist landing at Adolphus Reach.
- The encaustic tiles match in quality only those found in the U.S. Congress.
Location Details
Your Route
What We Offer
Common Questions
Escape room challenges, live concerts, cultural workshops, and seasonal gatherings run throughout the year.
Yes, church tours run regularly with a focus on the tiles and architectural history.
The 64 encaustic memorial tiles specifically commemorate the Loyalists who landed at Adolphus Reach in 1784.
Yes, the building and its facilities are available for private and community rentals.
Get the Itinerary
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Getting Here
10419 Highway 33 in Adolphustown
It is situated on the scenic route between the Glenora Ferry and the village of Bath.