Desirée Decoste
Beaver Staff
St. Alban the Martyr church in Adolphustown will mark the 235th anniversary and 85th celebration of the landing of the Loyalists this Sunday at 3 p.m.
The commemorative service will include guest speaker Chris Alexander, former Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and a Loyalist tea (orange Pekoe) with homemade and delicious snacks is to be held on the rectory lawn. Incase of rain, the tea and snacks will be held under a tent where little tables will be set up.
The service is taking place at the historic St. Alban’s Church located at 10419 Loyalist Parkway/Hwy 33.
“This will be our last year at St. Alban’s,” announced Jane Lovell, one of the event organizers and a member of the Friends of St. Alban’s. “It was just established as an Anglican church in the fall last year and it will be deconsecrated, so this is the last religious service that will be held there.”
St. Alban the Martyr United Empire Loyalist Memorial Church has stood at the centre of the village of Adolphustown for the past 135 years. Built between 1884 and 1888 to commemorate the centennial of the 1784 arrival of the United Empire Loyalists, St. Alban’s served the local Anglican community well into the 21st century.
The group by the name of Friends of St. Alban’s is a dedicated group striving to find a means by which the church can be preserved and enjoyed by many for years to come.
They are hoping for great weather and a great turn out as this will be the last service/celebration for the landing of the Loyalists in this church.