Facilities & Grounds

Adelynrood’s Main House, built in 1914, is both gracious and rustic with wide screened porches, an abundance of rocking chairs for relaxing and libraries for browsing. In addition to the Lobby where a Hostess greets, checks you in and answers your questions, specific areas include:

• Bedrooms – The 66 single and seven double bedrooms have simple furnishings and a shared bathroom nearby. Several first floor bedrooms are near a fully accessible bathroom.
• Common Room – The largest room in the house accommodates up to 90 people and features a field-stone fireplace and air conditioning.
• Della Robbia Porch – A favorite of visiting groups, it has windows on both sides. Normally configured with wicker chairs, it can be set up with tables and/or chairs for meetings.
• Lobby – Books, Adelynrood/SCHC apparel, bags, and other items are available for purchase.

The Adelynrood Dining Room menu features an eclectic mix ranging from light and health conscious “Spa Cuisine” to traditional American comfort foods. Guests are encouraged to mix and mingle at communal tables for four to 10 people and buffet-style serving. One table is set aside for those who want to eat in silence. Visitors are welcome to dine at Adelynrood. Reservations are required.

This year-round wing houses two meeting rooms and administrative offices. Accessible from the parking area via stairs or ramp, it has an elevator and fully accessible bathrooms. Meeting rooms include:

• Large Conference Room for up to 25 people
• Medium Conference Room for up to 12 people
• Meditation Room for up to four people

Five libraries provide a variety of spiritual works, poetry collections, mystery fiction, wildlife guides and other genres.

Main Library 

• Ground floor just off the Common Room.
• Largest Adelynrood collection and a computer to access the online catalog.
• Current acquisitions and special displays of conference materials.

Hilda’s Rest 

• Second floor.
• Eclectic biography collection with an emphasis on Saint Francis.

The Study 

• Second floor.
• Books from Emily Morgan’s collection, art books, books by Companions and older books in poetry, theology and church history.

Saint Tarsicius 

• Lower level using the exterior stairs off the Della Robbia Porch.
• Books for children and a perpetual book sale.

San Damiano 

• Living Room.
• Small collection of nature guides and mysteries.

The Chapel at Adelynrood sits between two lovely gardens and offers a wonderful space for quiet and prayer. Whether in nature or in worship in the chapel, guests are welcome to experience a respite from busyness and be still in God’s presence.

As part of the International Quiet Gardens Movement, Adelynrood’s historic grounds are open to the public year-round. The basic plan for the 14-acre site was developed in the early 20th century by landscape architect and early member of the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross, Deaconess Mary Potter. Her design vision of “indigenous plantings, a naturalized setting and simplicity” remains evident in the gardens and grounds. Features include:

• Paths through five wooded acres.
• A guided meditation walk called the “Stations of Creation.”
• A stone labyrinth.
• L-shaped cloister beds modeled after “Mary Gardens” that were common in Europe in the Middle Ages. Mary Gardens contain only blue and white flowers with a single red bloom which signifies the Passion.
• A cutting garden providing flowers for the chapel and Main House.
• A rockery with a Japanese style garden, fountain and perennial borders.
• The Forgiveness Garden with a fountain and benches set amidst a flowing landscape.

Adelynrood is blessed with the gift of land, and it is our privilege to participate in practices that sustain our resources, wooded areas and watersheds. Our intent is that our living practices will enhance the natural flow of streams, sustain the local bird population and enrich visitors’ experiences of Adelynrood with natural trails and quiet places for enjoying God’s creation. Green efforts include:

• Using vegetables and herbs from our gardens and local farms in the kitchen.
• Preparing meals from scratch to avoid unnecessary packaging and processing.
• Composting kitchen and dining waste.
• Using minimal disposable products and, when they are needed, trying to use those made from recycled materials.
• Separating waste into single stream recycling and compostable organic materials.
• Prioritizing high efficiency or low energy consumption devices.
• Utilizing LED lighting in our Chapel.
• Installing low flow toilets to reduce water consumption.
• Organically cultivating flowers for use throughout our facilities.