St. Alban the Martyr
Anglican Church

209 James Street, Delhi, Ontario

Anglicans have been worshipping in Delhi (originally known as Fredericksburg) since about 1840, first in private homes and then in the old Orange Hall.   The first registered baptism took place in June, 1850.

St. Alban's was formed on April 4, 1864 when 27 men signed the charter that in part read:   "we the undersigned hereby declare ourselves Members of the United Church of England and Ireland in the province of Canada — that we are of the full age of twenty-one years, and belonging to no other religious denomination".

The building was constructed in 1878 on land owned by Ann Eliza Lawson, daughter of one of the first settlers in Delhi.   One year later, she deeded the land to the church totaling 9 acres.   In the 1920's and 1930's land was sold to maintain ministry, and to purchase artifacts for the church and rectory.   The parish hall was built in 1939.   The new rectory was built in 1957.   An addition to the parish hall was built in 1985.

A newspaper article of the 1800's stated "The little church is a gem and will be more so when additional furniture or other improvements are made, but it is a difficult matter to build a church and furnish it in a churchly way with a membership of only twelve families and those far removed from wealth."   The "gem" has aged gracefully over the years and continues to shine in the community.   The greatest part of the "gem" is it's people and the richness of the worship which has continued to be traditionally "Anglican" to the present day.

Since 1979, St. Alban's Anglican Church, Delhi has been in a two-point parish with
St. John's, Otterville.   The parish is in the Oxford Deanery of the Diocese of Huron.   On Nov 30, 2009, the Rev'd Meghan Nicholls was ordained to the priesthood and appointed rector.   She had been Deacon-in-Charge since 1 September 2009.   Before that she was Deacon Assistant at St. James Westminster, London, Ontario.