The Annex in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Cathedral of St. Alban-the-Martyr

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 2, 2026

1. Cathedral of St. Alban-the-Martyr Marker

Inscription. Founded by Bishop Arthur Sweatman in 1883, St. Alban-the-Martyr served as the Cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto. Provincial legislation established the Cathedral Chapter and then annexed the surrounding lands to Toronto. Several grand designs in the Gothic Revival style were attempted, but never fully realized. The cathedral was partially built to the plans of R. C. Windeyer and E. M. Chadwick. Work later designed by Ralph Adams Cram was begun in 1912, but was never completed.

The interior features fine heraldic stained glass made by N. T. Lyon, and one of the only double hammerbeam roofs in Canada. In 1936, Archbishop Derwyn Owen transferred his seat to the Cathedral Church of St. James, and St. Alban-the-Martyr continued as a parish church.

Students have attended two schools here. St. Alban's Cathedral School, under the directorship of Marmaduke Matthews, operated from 1898 until 1910. Upon its founding in 1964, Royal St. George's College, a school in the Anglican choral tradition, acquired the church as its spiritual centre.

Erected 2008 by Heritage Toronto.

Topics and series. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Toronto Heritage series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.

Location. 43° 40.157′ N, 79° 24.606′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in The Annex. It is on Howland Avenue 0.1 kilometers Barton Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 111 Howland Avenue, Toronto ON M5R 3C3, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto

and on the Golden Horseshoe.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Uno Prii (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Beverly Mascoll (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); 35 Walmer Road (approx. 0.4 kilometers away);

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 2, 2026

2. Cathedral of St. Alban-the-Martyr Marker

Facing north on Howland Avenue

674 Markham Street (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Brunswick House (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Young Men’s - Young Women’s Hebrew Association (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); After the Spadina Expressway (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); “Stop Spadina Save Our City” (approx. 0.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Cathedral of St. Alban-the-Martyr marker photos and captions detail (left) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 2, 2026

3. Cathedral of St. Alban-the-Martyr marker photos and captions detail (left)

Cathedral of St. Alban-the-Martyr marker photo and caption detail (right) image. Click for full size.

1886

4. Cathedral of St. Alban-the-Martyr marker photo and caption detail (right)

Former Cathedral of St. Alban-the-Martyr in 2026 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 2, 2026

5. Former Cathedral of St. Alban-the-Martyr in 2026

Chancel and choir of the never completed building

Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 11, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.