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THE HISTORY OF THE ROSE CROIX DISTRICT OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE AND HUNTINGDONSHIRE

Author: Christopher M. Smith - District Recorder 32°

MWS and Brethren, I realised a few months ago that a history of Rose Croix in

this District did not exist and unless memories of its origins were gathered

together, it might be difficult in the years ahead to bring all the threads together.

Having said that, records of events in the District are principally restricted to

Chapter Minutes and to papers from Supreme Council. I am grateful to those

Chapter Recorders who have provided information so far and I am keen to add

to my history any anecdotes or personal recollections which individual members

may like to share.

I will, of necessity, concentrate on the formation of new Chapters and their

main architects as well as the distinguished characters who ruled the order over

the previous 170 years. I hope you will forgive me if I don’t go into too much

detail in this talk – the full history will be more comprehensive than time today

will allow.

When this history is completed, I hope to make it available on the District Rose

Croix website (www.northants-huntsrosecroix.org.uk) and, as far as I am able,

to add to it in the years ahead. If you find any inaccuracies and I am sure there

are some, please let me know and I will do my best to correct them.

INTRODUCTION

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

is an interesting philosophical concept that raises questions regarding

observation and knowledge of reality. In our context, if there are no Chapters in

Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire, does a District exist?. The first

Chapter to be consecrated in the present District was that of Thomas à Becket

Chapter No. 155 in 1905. Before that date, it is believed that Northamptonshire

and Huntingdonshire formed part of a larger West-Central District created by a

decision of Supreme Council in 1872. This history will trace the changes and

events from 1845 to the present day, in the hope that this will enable future

historians to continue charting the progress of the Antient and Accepted Rite in

the District.

THE FORMATION OF SUPREME COUNCIL

The Antient and Accepted Rite is believed to have originated in France in the

18th Century and to have proceeded via the West Indies and the United States

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until it reached England. The degree appears to have initially been worked in

Knights Templar Conclaves. This masterpiece of compression skips over the

many years and personalities which led to the issue of a Patent to Dr. Robert

Thomas Crucefix dated 26 October 1845 by the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction

(NMJ) of the Supreme Council of the United States. The full story is detailed in

“Rose Croix, a History of the Antient and Accepted Rite for England and

Wales” written by Brig. A. C. F. Jackson CVO CBE 32 °.

On 23 July 1846, Dr. Crucefix wrote to the NMJ to confirm that a Supreme

Council had been established. The Freemasons’ Review of 1846 gives the

names of the first members of the Council as follows:

Dr. Robert. Thomas Crucefix - Sovereign Grand Commander

Rev. George Oliver DD - Lieutenant Grand Commander

Henry Udall - Grand Treasurer

Dr. Henry Leeson - Grand Chancellor

Davyd W Nash - Grand Secretary General

Richard Leon Wilson

Thomas Pryor

William Tucker

Over the first 27 years, some 43 Chapters were granted Warrants throughout

England and Wales and even in Gibraltar. In 1872, the Supreme Council

decided to divide the country into Districts under the direction of Inspectors

General. These Districts, of necessity, had wide boundaries with only a handful

of Chapters within each. It was at this point in time, when the West-Central

District came into being covering the Counties of Gloucestershire,

Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire,

Leicestershire and Rutland. Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire is believed

to have been encompassed by the West-Central District but no Chapters were

consecrated in the Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire area until 1905.

1874 – 1905 CHARLES FENDELOW

The new West-Central District was put under the charge of Charles Fendelow as

Inspector General in 1874 and he received his 33° in the following year.

Fendelow is recorded as being a partner in a prosperous hardware business in

Wolverhampton and he also owned and let property in the same town. His

other Masonic interests included a role as Provincial Prior in Knights Templar

for Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire as well as becoming Chief

Adept in the College of Newcastle in the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia. At

that time, he was responsible for Vernon Chapter No. 5 meeting in Birmingham

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and Shakespeare Chapter No. 15 in Warwick, St. Dunstan No. 12 in Worcester

and Nottingham Chapter No. 17.

In 1873, St. Thomas Chapter No.49 was consecrated to meet in Gloucester.

Two years later, in 1875 St. Marys Chapter No. 63 was consecrated at

Littleover, Derbyshire and this was followed in 1882, by St. Margaret’s Chapter

No. 92 which met in Leicester and Magnus Chapter No. 109 which received its

Warrant in 1889 to meet in Newark, Nottinghamshire.

Although not part of the new District at that time, the Himalaya Chapter No. 80

was consecrated in Delhi, India and subsequently relocated to Stratford –on-

Avon in 1984.

In 1904, the Earl of Euston who was the Craft Provincial Grand Master from

1887 until 1912, received the 33° in 1892 and accompanied by a number of

senior Masons, including Thomas Phipps Dorman – who was later to become

Inspector General for the North-Central District – were recorded as having

made a trip to the United States. As was the custom of the time, this event was

reported in the local newspaper.

Extract from the Daily Review Newspaper, Decatur, Illinois dated 22 May

1904

One of the most notable features of the triennial conclave of the Grand

Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States, which will convene In

San Francisco on 6 Sept 1904 next, will be the official visit and reception with

the highest honours of the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master of the

Great Priory of England and Wales, the Right Honourable the Earl of Euston,

33rd degree and G. C. T., who will be accompanied by Charles F. Matier, 33rd

degree and G. C. T., the Great Vice Chancellor; Charles F. L Wright, 30th

decree, Past Great Prelate; Abraham Woodiwiss, 32nd degree and K C. T.;

Thomas Phipps Dorman, 31st degree and K. C. T.; Alfred James Thomas 30th

degree and Knight Templar; Thomas Fraser, 30th degree and Knight Templar.

General John Corson-Smith 33rd degree and G. C. T , of Chicago, chairman of

the committee on foreign relations of the Grand Encampment, has received

letters advising him that the Supreme Grand Master and his party are booked to

reach New York on Aug. 21 and Chicago, Wednesday, 24 August 1904 at 9:40 a

m., on the Twentieth Century Limited. They propose travelling in a private car

from Chicago via St. Louis to San Francisco, and while in San Francisco will

make their headquarters with the officers of the Grand Encampment of the

United States in the Grand Palace hotel. The presence of so distinguished a

party of foreign Knights Templar will be made the occasion of special

entertainment in honour of the visitors. It is probable that the Grand Master

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and the other officers of the Great Priory of Canada will also be present in the

Grand Encampment. Suites of rooms have been engaged by General Smith for

Lord Euston and party at the Auditorium Annex, where they will remain until

the evening of Friday, Aug 26. Returning from San Francisco, the English party

of Knights will journey east to Boston, where they will attend the Supreme

Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the USA Thirty-third degree,

Tuesday, Sept 20, and then sail for England on Sept 24.

1905 – 1912 ABRAHAM WOODIWISS

On Charles Fendelow’s death in 1905, with the growing number of Chapters in

the District and their distant areas, Supreme Council agreed to divide the area

into the West-Central District under Lt. Col. George Walton-Walker and the

North-Central District encompassing Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire,

Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire,

still a very large geographical area, but having only 4 Chapters.

Abraham Woodiwiss (Jr) of Duffield, Derby was installed as Inspector General

for the new North-Central District in 1906. The Woodiwiss family had strong

historical connections with Victorian Derby, playing a major part in the

development of railways in the region through their involvement with the

contracting firm Benton and Woodiwiss. His father, Abraham Woodiwiss (Sr)

was the main contractor involved in building the Trent Bridge at Nottingham

and sections of the Settle to Carlisle Railway line. Abraham Woodiwiss himself

was Mayor of Derby in 1901. In addition, Woodiwiss was Provincial Prior in

Knights Templar for Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

The new Inspector General’s first major task was to oversee the formation of

the first Chapter in Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire, Thomas à Becket

No. 155.

1906 - CONSECRATION OF THOMAS À BECKET CHAPTER NO. 155

Northampton Masonic Hall, which had been built in 1890 in Princess Street,

was experiencing an increase in the numbers of men wishing to join

Freemasonry. This inevitably provided an opportunity for new Orders to be

based in the building to avoid brethren travelling to other Centres.

On 26 May 1905, Ill. Bro. Thomas Phipps Dorman 31° who had been perfected

in Invicta Chapter No. 10 and later was a Founder of Shadwell Clark Chapter

No. 107 as well as a Joining member of Grafton Chapter No. 138 which met in

London, wrote to a number of interested brethren asking them to attend a

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meeting to discuss the formation of a new Rose Croix Chapter. Ill. Bro.

Dorman, who as we have seen earlier in this history, was a much travelled and

keen Mason in both Rose Croix and Knights Templar, was the ideal person to

promulgate the idea. By 14 August 1905, Bro. Dorman was able to report that

acquisition of furniture for the new Chapter was all but complete and a date of

21 September had been provisionally fixed for the Consecration.

The names of 5 potential new candidates were submitted to Supreme Council

with a view to perfecting them at the conclusion of the Consecration ceremony.

The list included the name of V.W. Bro. Harry Manfield who was Liberal MP

for mid-Northamptonshire from 1906 -1918 and who eventually became Craft

Grand Treasurer and Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Northamptonshire and

Huntingdonshire. Rather surprisingly, Supreme Council objected to the

inclusion of Harry Manfield as a candidate although it was not clear why an

objection had been raised.

Evidently this caused some consternation among the proposed Founders and

three months of inactivity ensued. Eventually, the Grand Secretary enquired

whether the applicants still wished to take up the Warrant which had been

offered. This impasse was resolved when, at the Inspector General’s

suggestion, Bro. Manfield was asked to withdraw his name from the proposed

list until after the Consecration had taken place. A resolution of the founding

committee was sent to the Inspector General indicating that, if the names could

be put forward at a later meeting of the new Chapter, would this be acceptable?.

The Inspector General thought that this would suffice and, as T.P. Dorman was

so delighted to have the matter resolved, he set off for the Queen’s Hotel,

Harrogate for a holiday, when he developed an unpleasant bout of influenza.

Rather unusually, Supreme Council suggested that the Consecration should take

place at their headquarters, which at that time was situated at 33, Golden

Square, London. Even more unusually, all the costs of the subsequent banquet

at the Imperial Hotel, Regent Street, were also met by Supreme Council.

The Consecration took place on Monday 26 March 1906 with the Sovereign

Grand Commander M.P. Bro. The Earl of Dartrey presiding. He was

accompanied by the Grand Treasurer General, M.Ill. Bro. Frank Richardson;

the Grand Prior, M.Ill. Bro. the Very Rev. Dean Brownrigg; the Grand

Chamberlain, M.Ill. Bro. James Henry Matthews; the Grand Chancellor, M.Ill.

Bro. Richard Loveland Loveland KC; the Grand Captain General, M.Ill.Bro.

Sir Bruce Maxwell Seton Bt and the Grand Marshall, M.Ill. Bro. Ralph Clutton.

The whole ceremony was administered by the Grand Director of Ceremonies,

V.Ill.Bro. Edward Armitage 33° and the Grand Secretary, V.Ill.Bro. J.C.F.

Tower.

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The unfortunate absence through illness of the Most Wise Sovereign designate,

Ill. Bro. T.P. Dorman prevented him being installed and the appointment of the

new Chapter officers was postponed until the second meeting on 9 May 1906.

At this meeting, 7 candidates were Perfected including Harry Manfield MP.

As an aside, in October 1911, Supreme Council moved from their previous base

at 33 Golden Square, London to occupy their new premises at 10 Duke Street,

the foundation stone having been laid on 1 December 1910 by the Sovereign

Grand Commander, M.P.Bro. The Earl of Dartrey.

At the December 1916 Enthronement Meeting, the Chapter was honoured to

receive the Grand Secretary General, M.Ill. Bro. J.C.F. Tower and the Grand

Director of Ceremonies, V.Ill.Bro. A.D.Hansell 33° who were present to assist

in Perfecting John, 5th Lord Lilford, the Provincial Grand Master of the

Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire Craft Province together with his

Deputy, V.W. Bro. Thomas Horton.

Over 60 years later, at the meeting on 18 September 1979, the Chapter was

delighted to Perfect Bro. the Most Hon. The Marquess of Northampton, who

remains an Honorary member of the Chapter to this day. He was subsequently

promoted to the 33° by Supreme Council in 2000 and also rose to become Pro

Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England having been initiated at

Northampton in Ceres Lodge No. 6977 in 1979.

1913 – 1920 MAJ. JOHN MAURICE WINGFIELD

The Inspector General, Abraham Woodiwiss died on 6 January 1912 and he was

succeeded by V. Ill. Bro. Maj. John Maurice Wingfield of Tickencote Hall, near

Stamford who was installed as Inspector General for the North-Central District.

Tickencote Hall, built in 1705 and demolished in 1950 was the seat of the

Wingfield family for nearly 250 years. John Maurice Wingfield was born on 1

February 1863 and was educated as Harrow School and Trinity College

Cambridge. He entered the Northamptonshire and Rutland militia as a

Lieutenant in 1880 rising through the ranks to join the Coldstream Guards,

having served in many operations in South Africa. As Maj. Wingfield he had

earlier in 1911 become High Sheriff of Rutland. Later he was promoted to

become Lt-Col. John Maurice Wingfield, D.S.O., O.B.E. In 1920, he became a

member of Supreme Council as Grand Chancellor which led to his retirement

from his role as Inspector General.

During his tenure, the first Chapter in Lincolnshire was consecrated in 1918 to

meet at Grimsby with the name of the Tower Chapter No. 192. This gave the

Inspector General a total of 6 Chapters spread over a wide geographic area.

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1914-1918

It appears from the limited records which are available, that meetings of

Chapters continued to be held on a regular basis throughout the years of the

Great War. After proceedings were usually limited and held as modestly as

possible. Even after the end of the war, travelling conditions made attendance

at Chapters more difficult and numbers at meeting occasionally fell into single

figures.

1919 – CONSECRATION OF DAVID EARL OF HUNTINGDON CHAPTER NO. 201

A new Chapter, to meet at Huntingdon, was named after David Earl of

Huntingdon, who later became David, King of Scotland and was created as an

Earl by his brother-in-law, Henry I King of England in 1108 AD. He

established an asylum for lepers and indigent persons in the 12th

Century as the

Chapel of St. John’s Hospital, Huntingdon which later became St. John’s

Grammar School.

It is believed that most of the 19 Founders were members of the Cantabrigia

Chapter No. 112 which now meets at Bateman Street, Cambridge. They

included 6 members of Socrates and 6 members of St. Ivo Craft Lodges as well

as 3 members from Peterborough.

The Consecration took place on 25 February 1919 in the Masonic Rooms at the

George Hotel, Huntingdon and the ceremony was conducted by the Lt. Grand

Commander, V.P. Bro. Edward Nash. To commemorate the ceremony, the

grains of corn used in the Consecration were mounted in a case made and

presented by E&P Bro. C. H. Nicholl. The seal used in the Perfection

ceremonies was presented by V. Ill. Bro. Lt. Col. Cecil Powney.

Unusually, the Chapter Bylaws were prefaced by an historical account of the

derivation of the name of the Chapter which had been proposed by V. Ill. Bro.

Edward Armitage, then the Grand Marshal. By 1924, he had risen to the rank of

Lt. Grand Commander and served in that office until his death in 1929.

The first Most Wise Sovereign was Ill. Bro. T. Coxon 30° with E&P Bro. E J

Smith as Recorder.

In February 1921, the Chapter was pleased to perfect E&P Bro. George Edward

Monckton who lived at Fineshade Abbey. Bro. Monckton was later to become

the 7th Earl of Galway, Governor-General of New Zealand from1935-1938,

during which period he became Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New

Zealand.

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In October 1934, the Chapter held its first meeting at the Priory, Huntingdon but

by September 1942 the meetings were back at The George Hotel as the Priory

was requisitioned by the American Red Cross Society and Perfection

ceremonies were suspended. During the War it was difficult to obtain regalia

for the 18th

degree and Supreme Council permitted the wearing of a red rose

instead. Attendance also fell away with a low point being reached in September

1944 when only 5 brethren were present.

Over the years, the Chapter membership waxed and waned from a record

membership in 1976 to the present level of 54 in May 2015. Apart from Castle

Ashby Chapter, this is the strongest Chapter in terms of membership.

1919 – CONSECRATION OF ST. GEORGE OF ENGLAND CHAPTER NO. 205

The next Chapter in the District was St. George of England

Chapter No. 205 which was consecrated on 11 September 1919.

Most of the Founder members came from Thomas a Becket

Chapter. Indeed, in March 1919, Thomas à Becket Chapter

Perfected 14 candidates but by December the same year, 13 of

the 14 had resigned to become Founders of the new Chapter to

meet in Wellingborough.

1920 – CONSECRATION OF MEDESHAMSTEDE CHAPTER NO. 214

According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, written in the 12th century, the name

Medeshamstede was given at the time of the foundation of a monastery in

Peterborough in the 7th century, owing to the presence of a spring called

"Medeswæl", meaning "Medes-well". However the name is commonly held to

mean "homestead in the meadows", or similar, on an assumption that "Medes-"

means "meadows".

The Chapter was consecrated on Friday, 2nd

July 1920 at the Masonic Hall,

Peterborough with Ill. Bro. John Gilbert Sturton 30° as the Founding Sovereign.

John Sturton, a Chemist, was one of the first two initiates into the Peterborough

and Counties Lodge No. 2996 and rose to achieve Grand Rank in the Craft in

1931.

The Consecration was carried out by the Sovereign Grand Commander M.P.

Bro. Rt. Hon. Earl of Donoughmore KP in the presence of the Inspector General

for the North Central District, V.Ill. Bro. Col. John Maurice Wingfield DSO and

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V. Ill. Bro. Lt. Col. Cecil Powney the Inspector General for the Central District.

The Prelate’s office was taken by M. Ill. Bro. Rev. Arnold Whitaker Oxford

MD, the Grand Prior who had only been appointed to that office earlier in the

year. He was to serve Supreme Council in that office for a remarkable 26 years.

M.Ill. Bro. John Charles Fitzroy Tower, Grand Secretary General then

proceeded to install. Ill. Bro. Sturton as the first Sovereign of the Chapter.

The 20 Founders included three members of the Clergy in the persons of Rev.

W.W. Covey Crump MA, Rev. J. S. Serjeant and Rev. E. L. C. Clapton. Rev.

Covey Crump was a fairly prolific Masonic author – among his publications

was an Early History of the Royal Ark Mariners’ Degree and he was an

enthusiastic member of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge of Research.

1921 – 1930 THOMAS PHIPPS DORMAN

In 1921, the District of Lincolnshire was created under the Earl of Yarborough

leaving the North-Central District to cover the counties of Nottinghamshire,

Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire.

Following the promotion of the then Inspector General to Supreme Council, in

1921, Ill. Bro. Thomas Phipps Dorman of Fairfield, Billing Road, Northampton

received his 32° and was installed as Inspector General for the new District,

being promoted to 33° later that same year.

His Masonic achievements are well documented elsewhere although he is

probably best known for his early history of the Craft Province of

Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire from 1798 – 1912. He died on 23rd

February 1930 after 9 very successful years as Inspector General which

included the Consecration of Cytringan Chapter in Kettering.

1926 - CONSECRATION OF CYTRINGAN CHAPTER NO. 256

Cytringan Chapter took its name from the Anglo Saxon name for Kettering,

although in the 10th Century, Kettering was variously named as Kyteringas and

Keteiringan meaning Ketter’s People. The 15 Founders of the Chapter included

Ill. Bros. J G Sturton 31° and W C Cattell 30° both of whom were Craft Grand

Officers. Among the junior Founders was a certain E&P Bro. E. C. Gravestock

who went on to become the Deputy Provincial Grand Master in the Craft

Province in 1952.

On 1 May 1926, the Consecration Ceremony was conducted by the Grand

Captain General , M.Ill. Bro. Col. Sir Arthur McMahon GCMG, GCVO, KCIE,

CSI assisted by M.Ill. Bro. Rev. Arnold Whittaker Oxford MD, Grand Chaplain

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who acted as Prelate, M.Ill.Bro. Lt. Col. J. M. Wingfield, Grand Chancellor

who acted as 1st General and who had earlier been Inspector General for the

District and M.Ill. Bro. John Charles Fitzroy Tower, Grand Secretary General

who took office as 2nd

General. The Director of Ceremonies on this occasion

was V.Ill. Bro. Sir Trevor Jocelyn Matthews who became Sovereign Grand

Commander in 1950.

Unfortunately, the Inspector General, V. Ill. Bro. T. Phipps

Dorman was unable to attend owing to the recent untimely

death of his brother. However there were a total of 43

brethren present, including 12 of the Founders.

The first Most Wise Sovereign, who was installed by the

Grand Secretary General, was Ill. Bro. William Charles Cattell

who then went on to propose that all the members of the

Consecrating Team should be elected to Honorary

membership.

Rather curiously, the Minutes of the Consecration Meeting do not record any

ceremony of the Third Point. As the Princes had earlier sat down to lunch,

perhaps they felt no need for further refreshment!.

1931 – 1939 LT. COL. C. F. OLIVER

On 23 September 1930, the death of Thomas Phipps Dorman was announced

provoking a further review of the District boundaries. Nottinghamshire and

Derbyshire were formed into a separate district leaving the new District of

Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire.

In 1931, V. Ill. Bro. Lt. Col. C. F. Oliver 33° of, Knighton Park Road, Leicester

was installed as Inspector General for Leicestershire, Northants, Hunts &

Rutland – later he became Sir Frederick Oliver having been appointed as

Provincial Grand Master of the Craft Province in 1928.

16 Jan 1936 Oliver Chapter No. 311, to meet at Leicester, was issued with its

Warrant and it was clearly named after the Inspector General.

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1940 – 1952 SIR JOHN CORAH

Following the death of the previous Inspector

General, Col. Oliver in 1939, the following year, V.

Ill. Bro. John Harlod Corah 33° (later Sir John) of

The Hermitage, Foxton Mkt Harborough was

installed as the new Inspector General. He later

moved to Hannam Court, Charles Street, Leicester.

He had previously been High Sherriff of

Leicestershire in 1933 and was the mainstay of the

huge knitwear firm of Corah’s which produced

goods under the trade name “St. Michael’s” for

Marks & Spencer.

Sir John Corah’s Masonic career began on the 8th December 1914 when he was

initiated in Albert Edward Lodge No 1560, of which he was to remain a

member until his death in 1978, a period of sixty four years.

He received his first active appointment in Provincial Grand Lodge as Assistant

Provincial Grand Secretary in 1926. He became Provincial Grand Secretary in

1929. Sir John was appointed Deputy Provincial Grand Master in 1937 and

being installed as Provincial Grand Master in 1940. He served in that office

until 1 January 1959.

Sir John was active in the Holy Royal Arch, the Mark degree and the Royal Ark

Mariners, the Masonic and Military Order of Knights of the Red Cross of

Constantine, the United Religious and Military Orders of The Temple, the

Order of the Secret Monitor, and the Ancient and Accepted Rite.

The Centenary of Supreme Council was announced in Annual Circular No. 45

in which they hoped that the year 1945, despite being the end of the Second

World War, would find all Chapters steady in their determination to uphold the

highest principles of Rose Croix Masonry, remembering that, in our Order “we

join and pray, not as private men asking blessings for ourselves, but as a

religious society exercising the charity which is the peculiar badge of the

Christian religion”.

1952 – 1959 W H PERCIVAL

Following the retirement of Sir John Corah as Inspector General, V.Ill. Bro.

William Howes Percival 33° of The Crescent, Phippsville, Northampton was

installed as his successor in the District of Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire,

Leicestershire and Rutland. William Howes Percival was a Solicitor and Clerk

to Towcester Magistrates, also secretary to the Town Hall, Deputy Coroner,

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clerk to governors of Towcester Grammar school, clerk to commissioners of

taxes and superintendent of the local St John Ambulance.

The Installation was carried out by M.P. Bro. Sir Trevor Matthews, Sovereign

Grand Commander. The ceremony took place under the banner of the Thomas

a Becket Chapter at Princess Street, Northampton on 23 May 1952.

The Sovereign Grand Commander was supported by the Grand Prior, M.Ill.

Bro. the Rev. Canon George Turner Waldegrave MBE and the Deputy Grand

Director of Ceremonies who read the Inspector General’s Patent to the

assembled 98 members.

At that same Installation meeting, a certain Bro. Edward James Hayward was

Perfected with the Accolade being delivered by the Grand Secretary General,

M.Ill. Bro. Col. Ernest George Dunn DSO. E&PP Bro. Hayward was then

received into the “living circle” by the Sovereign Grand Commander, thus

ending a very special occasion for the Chapter.

Interestingly, in May 1952, Supreme Council decided to authorise that a sum

not exceeding one shilling per head per annum could be levied on each member

of the District to defray any expenses incurred by Inspectors General and their

District Recorders. Over the years, this has increased to £1.00 per member in

Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire and this is quite adequate to cover the

present level of expenses. Any surplus has been used to defray the cost of

hosting demonstrations by the King Edward VII Chapter of Improvement and in

making donations to charity.

V.Ill. Bro. Percival passed away on 14 February 1961. That same year, Ill. Bro.

Edward Elgar Field 30° died and he will be remembered as the Provincial

Grand Master of the Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire Craft Province.

1958 – CONSECRATION OF PEVEREL CHAPTER NO. 522

On 25 November 1958, Peverel Chapter No.522 was consecrated to meet at

Rushden with E & P Bro. Ronald S. Fox as one of the Founders. In 1958, E &P

Bro. Douglas Compton James was Perfected in Cytringan Chapter.

In 1968, John Humphrey was perfected in Peverel Chapter. Il. Bro. John

became the longest-serving District Recorder in our area being in office for over

25 years.

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1960 – 1962 BRIG. CECIL F. MORLEY

Brig C. Bernard S. Morley CBE TD DL from Leicester, who had been

appointed as the Provincial Grand Master in Leicestershire & Rutland Craft,

was installed as Inspector General for the District. He was subsequently was

appointed to Supreme Council as Grand Chamberlain on 25 May 1967 and

promoted to Lieutenant Grand Commander in 1975.

Ill. Bro. T F Gammage 32°, a member of Thomas a Becket Chapter No. 155, of

3 Spencer Parade, Northampton was appointed as the first District Recorder.

Brig. Morley’s period of office heralded an expansion in the number of

Chapters which led, in 1962, to the separation of Northamptonshire &

Huntingdonshire to become a new District. On 13 April 1961, the Hugh Latimer

Chapter No. 558 was issued with a Warrant to meet at Leicester. This was

followed later that year by a Warrant being issued for the Abbey of Leicester

Chapter No. 564 also to meet at Leicester.

1962 – 1973 COLIN FORD SEDDON

At 2.30pm Monday 10 December 1962 at Cytringan Chapter, Kettering,

presided over by the MWS, E&P Bro. Stanley Date, V. Ill. Bro. Colin Ford

Seddon of 21, The Drive, Kettering was installed as first Inspector General of

the Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire District as we now know it. He was

previously Recorder of Cytringan Chapter and appears to have organised his

own Installation. He also organised a lunch prior to the meeting at the princely

price of 10 shillings!. V.Ill. Bro. Seddon was a member of Cytringan Lodge No.

4048 and rose to the rank of Past Grand Deacon in the Craft. In addition he was

a Founder member of Thistle and Rose Lodge No. 6644 and became Provincial

Prior in Knights Templar.

The Inspector General from Leicestershire and Rutland, Brig. C B S Morley,

who had presided over the earlier combined District also attended to support the

new leader of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire.

The Installation Ceremony was carried out by the Sovereign Grand

Commander, MP Bro, Major Robert Lindsay Loyd OBE MC, assisted by the

Grand Prior, M.Ill.Bro. Rev. Canon George Waldegrave MBE as Prelate,

M.IllBro. Sir George Boag KCIE, CSI . Grand Chancellor as 1st General and

M.Ill.Bro. Sir Donald Makgill Bt, Grand Secretary General as 2nd

General. The

proceedings were kept in order by Ill. Bro. Lt. Col. the Hon. M.G. Edwards

MBE 31° who acted as Director of Ceremonies. The ceremony attracted 43

members of the chapter and 49 visitors – this prevented all those present from

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partaking in the Third Point which only included members of the Chapter and of

the Higher Degrees.

1967 – CONSECRATION OF ST. CRISPIN CHAPTER NO. 642

St. Crispin Chapter was named after the patron saint of shoemakers, St.

Crispianus. This was a clear link to its location in Northampton, which could

justifiably claim to be the centre of shoemaking at that time.

The Founders almost exclusively were members of the Thomas a Becket

Chapter.

On 5 May 1967, St. Crispin Chapter No.642 was consecrated by the Sovereign

Grand Commander M.P. Bro. Sir Eric Studd Bt. OBE and Ill. Bro. G. J. W.

Wareing 31° was enthroned as first Most Wise Sovereign.

The post of 1st General was taken by M.Ill. Bro. Vivian A.A. Elgood MC, the

Grand Treasurer General.

Also present from Supreme Council was Lt. Cmdr. A.C.E. Higgins DSC RN

Past Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies.

1968 - CONSECRATION OF MERCIA CHAPTER NO. 658

In the 7th

Century, Northamptonshire was considered to be part of the Anglo-

Saxon kingdom of Mercia and this name was unanimously adopted at a meeting

of the proposed Founders on 29 December 1967.

On 6 June 1968, Mercia Chapter No.658 was consecrated by the Sovereign

Grand Commander M.P. Bro. Sir Eric Studd Bt. OBE and Ill. Bro. Archibald

William Gravestock 32° was enthroned as first Most Wise Sovereign. The post

of 1st General was taken by V.P. Bro. Erskine Simes QC, the Lt. Grand

Commander, 2nd

General by M.Ill. Bro. Maj-Gen, Sir Ralph Hone KCMG,

KBE, MC, TD the Grand Captain General and that of Prelate by M.ill. Bro.

Rev. C. H.Mosse Grand Prior. Also present from Supreme Council were the

Grand Chamberlain M.Ill. Bro. Brig. C B S Morley (formerly Inspector General

of the District) and M.Ill. Bro. Sir Donald Makgill, the Grand Secretary

General. Also attending were the Inspector General for Northamptonshire and

Huntingdonshire, V.Ill. Bro. Colin Seddon and his opposite number from

Warwickshire, V.Ill. Bro. David Mitchell.

The meeting was attended 69 members and guests, including 17 Founders.

Lunch had earlier been taken at 12.45pm at a cost of 21 shillings. Amongst

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those Founders can be found the name of one Douglas C. James 18° who took

the post of Raphael and who was to go on to higher things in the District. In

addition, another of the Founders was E&P Bro. H. Brian Smith 18° who was

later to become a most distinguished Provincial Grand Master in the Craft

Province of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire and who served for 6 years

as Recorder of the Chapter.

On 20 October 1976, the Recorder of Mercia Chapter reported that a combined

meeting of Past Sovereigns of both Cytringan and Mercia Chapters would be

held to consider candidates for Perfection in the year ahead. At that time, they

had 9 names on their combined list and members were invited to submit others

if they wished. Clearly recruitment in the Kettering area was booming!.

On the initiative of the Inspector General, from 1975 to 1977, several District

meetings were held under the auspices of Mercia Chapter at which Most Wise

Sovereigns and princes from other Chapters were invited to attend, the meeting

in September 1975 being especially well-attended with 91 members and visitors

there to witness a Perfection Ceremony.

The Chapter has been fortunate to have two long-serving Recorders: Ill. Bro.

Ernest Maden who was in that office from 1976 until 1993 and Ill. Bro. Michael

Coleman 31° who took over in that year and, apart from a few years in

progressive offices, remains as Recorder to the present day.

Interestingly, on 22 January 1980, a certain Kenneth George Bacon was

Perfected – sadly, at the next meeting of the Chapter he was not able to attend to

receive his Supreme Council Certificate as we was engaged on other duties as

Mayor of Kettering!. At the October 1980 meeting, the Inspector General was

on hand to remedy the oversight.

At the time of writing, only one Founder member of the Chapter is still with us

– Ill. Bro. H. Brian Smith 32° who was for some 5 years, the Recorder of the

Chapter. As R W Bro. Brian Smith he was Provincial Grand Master of the

Craft Province for 7 years from 1990 until 1997, having served for 6 years

previously as the Deputy PGM.

1973 – 1989 SIDNEY RONALD FOX

On the 6 March 1973 V. Ill. Bro. Sidney Ronald Fox of Knuston Spinney was

installed as Inspector General having been a Founder of the Peverel Chapter.

Once again, the Thomas à Becket Chapter was chosen as the host in the

relatively new Freemasons’ Hall in St. George’s Avenue, Northampton.

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The ceremony was performed by the Lt. Grand Commander Major General Sir

Ralph Hone KCMG, KBE, MC, TD, QC 33° assisted by the Grand Chancellor,

M.Ill. Bro. Lt. Col. John Leicester-Warren TD VL: the Grand Prior, M.Ill. Bro.

the Rev. Canon George Turner Waldegrave MBE; the Grand Secretary General,

M.Ill. Bro. Robert Alastair Ingham-Clark and the Grand Director of

Ceremonies. As an aside, I would recommend that you all research the life

story of Sir Ralph Hone, - he was a fascinating man who rose from fairly

humble beginnings to achieve greatness in many walks of life.

Ill. Bro. Harry Bradbury 32° was appointed as District Recorder

1976 - CONSECRATION OF DR. CRUCEFIX CHAPTER NO. 810

At 2.30pm on 15 Oct 1976, the Dr. Crucefix Chapter No.810 was consecrated at

the Masonic Hall, Peterborough by the Sovereign Grand Commander, M. P.

Bro. Major General Sir Ralph Hone KCMG, KBE, MC, TD, QC 33°. He was

assisted by 4 other members of Supreme Council and the Grand Director of

Ceremonies and his Deputy, together with the Grand Organist and Grand Outer

Guard. The first Sovereign was Ill. Bro. Frank Dewhurst 32° and he was

supported by 20 other Founders.

At that same meeting, a certain Ill. Bro. Richard Sandbach 30° was proposed as

a joining member and he subsequently joined Medeshamstede Chapter No. 214.

Later in that Consecration meeting, the same Ill. Bro. Sandbach was appointed

as the first Director of Ceremonies.

The Summons for the January meeting of the Chapter in 1981 was given a

revised format as it included a representation of the “Rugged Cross” with the

Latin inscription “In Cruce Fido” which is translated as “In Christ’s Faith”. Art

work for the new logo was arranged and paid for by Ill. Bro. Sandbach through

his friend, Ill. Bro. Colin Cole, the then Garter King of Arms at the College of

Heralds.

1979 – CONSECRATION OF ST. LAWENCE THE MARTYR CHAPTER NO. 860

The parish church of Towcester, just off the Watling Street, is named after Saint

Lawrence, who was one of the seven deacons of ancient Rome under Pope

Sixtus II who were martyred during the persecution by Emperor Valerian in

258AD. As many of the Founders were based in the Towcester area, it seemed

only fitting that the new Chapter should be named after the local church.

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The 16 Founders and first Officers assembled at Freemasons’ Hall, St. George’s

Avenue, Northampton on Friday, 8 June 1979 to welcome the Consecrating

Team from Supreme Council at a lunch preceding the ceremony. The ceremony

commenced at 2.15pm with members of Supreme Council and the Inspector

General, V. Ill. Bro. Ronnie Fox entering in procession. The chair was taken by

Sovereign Grand Commander, M. P. Bro. Major General Sir Ralph Hone

KCMG, KBE, MC, TD, QC 33°. The position of 1st General was entrusted to

M. Ill.Bro. C.H.V. Elliott TD, the Grand Captain General; M. Ill. Bro. R.A.

Ingham Clark acted as 2nd

General with M.Ill. Bro. Rev. Canon Richard

Tydeman as Prelate. The Minutes of the meeting record that the appropriate

parts of the ceremony were accompanied by “impressive singing by the

Brethren”. Ill.Bro. John Spencer Mudd was then enthroned as first Most Wise

Sovereign by the Grand Secretary General, M. Ill. Bro. R.A. Ingham Clark.

Although he had acted as organising Founder Secretary, Ill. Bro. Cyril Marston,

having completed this task, was then invested as the first Prelate of the Chapter.

Several of the Founders then went on to high office in other Orders; E&P

Brothers Norman Rolfe and John Bennett both became Provincial Grand

Masters in Mark Masonry in Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire and E&P

Bro. Eric Pell completed his Masonic career as a much-loved Deputy Provincial

Grand Master in the Craft.

On 1 August 1981, Ill. Bro. Douglas James was appointed as District Recorder,

his predecessor, Ill. Bro. Harry Bradbury having retired for health reasons and

moved back to his native Lancashire.

1981 V.P. Bro. Brig. Cecil Morley dies

1984 - CONSECRATION OF BENEVENTA CHAPTER NO. 939

On 26 Jun 1984, Beneventa Chapter No.939 was consecrated at the Masonic

Hall in Daventry. The name of the Chapter derives from the ancient name for

the town which had been the base for Romano – British settlement on Borough

Hill.

The ceremony was performed by the Sovereign Grand Commander M. P. Bro.

Harold Devereux Still with a small team from Supreme Council. The first Most

Wise Sovereign was Ill. Bro. Eddie Maden who for many years was Recorder of

Mercia Chapter.

The whole ceremony was guided by the hand of the Grand Director of

Ceremonies, V. Ill Bro. Henry de Lerisson Cazenove 33° who would have been

at home in the area as he lived at Cottesbrooke Cottage for many years. He was

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also the author of a history of the Northamptonshire Yeomanry from 1794-

1964.

Among the Founders was Ill. Bro. Peter Kitson 32° who was Grand

Superintendent of the Holy Royal Arch Province of Northamptonshire and

Huntingdonshire from 1997 until 2007.

1985 – CONSECRATION OF GOOD INTENT CHAPTER NO. 951

The Good Intent Chapter No.951 was consecrated at the Masonic Hall,

Peterborough, on 6 December, 1985. Originally there were 19 founder

members, drawn from local Chapters in the District.

There are sound historical reasons for the choice of the name “Good Intent” for

this Chapter.

The first Lodge to function in Stamford was an Irish Militia Lodge, No. 867,

which had no name but continued to work from the date of its foundation in

1799 throughout the first decade or so of the 19th

Century. The first true English

Lodge in Stamford was the Lodge of Good Intent, constituted by the Antients

Grand Lodge in 1803, with the re-issue of the dormant warrant No. 87. This

new Lodge was founded mainly by members of the Irish Lodge No. 867.

In about 1814, following the Union of 1813, Good Intent’s number was changed

to 109.

Earlier than this, it had become involved in a well-known quarrel with the Rev.

William Peters, Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire in 1806, and although

no victor emerged in this tussle between Moderns and Antients, Good Intent

Lodge continued working, including the Royal Arch Degree, until 1827, when

lack of support or energy caused it to be erased.

Thus, Good Intent may be said to be a name honoured and respected in the

history of Stamford Freemasonry.

In the unavoidable absence through illness of the Sovereign Grand Commander

M P Bro, Harold Devereux Still, the Consecration ceremony was performed by

the Grand Secretary General, M.Ill. Bro. R. A. Ingham –Clark. The office of

1st General was filled by the Grand Treasurer General M Ill Bro. Sir Herbert

Tetley KBE CB, that of 2nd

General by the Grand Marshall, M Ill Bro. Dr.

Stanley Aston OBE TD DL and that of Prelate by M. Ill. Bro. Rev. Canon

Richard Tydeman who was Grand Prior at that time. He was eventually to

become Sovereign Grand Commander, a post which he filled with distinction

for some 8 years. He was a noted Masonic writer and historian with many

books and papers to his credit.

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Amongst the honoured guests at the Consecration were the Inspector General

for Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire, V. Ill. Bro. S Ronald Fox and his

opposite number from Lincolnshire, V. Ill. Bro. Raymond Ringrose together

with the District Recorder, Ill. Bro. Douglas James.

The Founding Sovereign of the Chapter was Ill Bro. Stanley Fletcher Ashworth

30° who had borne much of the work in founding the Chapter. Among the first

officers of the Chapter as Steward was one E & P Bro. O N N Hart who went on

to become Provincial Grand Master of the Craft Province in July 1997.

Since its Consecration, the Chapter has prospered and has a healthy membership

who, rather uniquely have several social occasions for the families which are

usually heavily oversubscribed, including a “fur & feather” supper and a

Christmas Dinner.

On 20 November 1986, Ill. Bro. John Humphrey 32° was appointed as District

Recorder

1989 – 1994 DOUGLAS COMPTON JAMES

1989 V. Ill. Bro. Douglas Compton James becomes Inspector General Leaves

a legacy to the Craft Province in the form of the Douglas James Trust.

1993 V. Ill. Bro. Ronnie Fox dies aged 83

1994 – 2004 WILLIAM BARRINGTON HALL

On 19 May 1976, E&P Bro. William Barrington Hall was perfected in Peverel

Chapter No. 522.

In 1994, V. Ill. Bro. William Barrington Hall was installed as Inspector General

by the Sovereign Grand Commander, M.P. Bro. Rev. Canon Richard Tydeman

at a meeting in Rushden of the Peverel Chapter. Earlier, V. Ill. Bro. Barrie had

been promoted to the 33° at a ceremony in Duke Street which proved to be the

last meeting under the command of M.P. Bro. Harold Devereux Still who

retired from that office soon afterwards.

He served in the office of Inspector General for 10 very successful years and

hardly ever missed a meeting of any of the 13 Chapters in the District. In

addition he was a much-loved Provincial Grand Master of the Craft Province of

Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire for 6 years from 2005 until 2011.

On 14 June 2004, the Inspector General V. Ill. Bro. Barrie Hall wrote to

Chapters throughout the District to the effect that, although having been invited

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by Supreme Council to consider a further 5 year Patent to continue as Inspector

General for the District, after a long and hard deliberation, it was in the best

interests of the District to decline. Four days later, Supreme Council notified

Chapters that Ill. Bro. Rev. Anthony Avery 33° (Elect) would take over the

responsibilities of Inspector General Designate in Charge of the District on 1

September 2004.

RICHARD STAINTON EDWARD SANDBACH – SOVEREIGN GRAND COMMANDER 2002-2004

As mentioned earlier in this narrative, Ill. Bro. Richard Sandbach was a Joining

member of two Chapters in the District having been perfected in Bayard

Chapter No. 71 on 23 October 1969 in London. At that time, few could have

expected him to have such a prominent and distinguished career in

Freemasonry, although from his earliest days, he was recognised as a erudite

man and skilled ritualist. From 1984 to 1990, he was the Provincial Grand

Master for the Craft Province of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire,

having previously served as Deputy Provincial Grand Master for 6 years and

Assistant for 3 years.

Richard Sandbach gained a law degree at

Cambridge University and during the Second

World War enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment, from

where he was commissioned into the Cheshire

Regiment. He served with the Canadian Army

before volunteering for the Airborne Forces, acting

as General Staff Officer 2nd Grade (GSO2).

After the War, in 1949, whilst practising law in

London he was initiated into Clerestory Lodge No

6551, a London Lodge. Eventually, his work took

him to Peterborough where, in 1951, he joined

Fitzwilliam Lodge No 2533. Thus began an

association with this Province and District that was to last 63 years.

On 29 September 1989, V. Ill. Bro. R.S.E. Sandbach became Grand Marshal,

his 1st appointment to Supreme Council. He was promoted to the position of Lt.

Grand Commander in 1996 and served in that office for 6 years. In 2002, M.P.

Bro. R S E Sandbach became Sovereign Grand Commander, the very highest

position in the Antient and Accepted Rite. After 3 years in that very

demanding office, M.P. Bro. Richard retired at the age of nearly 90.

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On 10 Jan 2015, the District was greatly saddened to learn of his death. His

memorial service at Peterborough Cathedral was attended by many members of

the District and also by the Sovereign Grand Commander, M. P. Bro. Alan

Englefield and other members of Supreme Council. V. Ill. Bro. Barrie Hall

presented a moving eulogy to Richard Sandbach which recalled his wide range

of interests and achievements as well as emphasising his erudition and talents.

2001– CONSECRATION OF CASTLE ASHBY CHAPTER NO. 1138

Castle Ashby Chapter No. 1138 was consecrated on 23 October 2001 at Castle

Ashby House in Northamptonshire, one of the family homes of Lord

Northampton. The ceremony took place in the Great Hall of the House when V.

Ill. Bro. Rev. Michael Morgan, the Grand Prior was the Consecrating Officer.

The intention in forming the new Chapter was that it should confine its

membership to members of the higher degrees although members of the 18°

would be welcome at any of the meetings. The Chapter would form an

additional means of education and communication within the District and it has

been delighted to receive many talks and papers from distinguished members of

the Order.

The Founding Sovereign of the Chapter was Ill. Bro. John Humphrey 32°, the

District Recorder together with 25 other senior members of the District. The

Chapter holds its Enthronement meeting at Rushden although it may be held

elsewhere by Dispensation.

The Chapter was honoured, although not surprised, to receive a visit from the

Sovereign Grand Commander, M.P. Bro. Richard Sandbach on 27 May 2003.

A year later in October 2004, V.Ill. Bro. Rev. Anthony Avery was delighted to

come to the meeting in his new position as the Inspector General for

Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire.

On 31 May 2005, the Grand Captain General, M.Ill. Bro. Bill Hanbury-Bateman

was pleased to present a silver salver to the past Inspector General, V. Ill. Bro.

Barrie Hall to mark his 10 years in charge of the District.

2004 – TO DATE REV ANTHONY W. AVERY

On 13 Jan 1983, E&P Bro. Rev. Anthony William Avery was perfected in the

Thomas à Becket Chapter No. 155 in Northampton.

Over 21 years later, at a meeting of the Thomas a Becket Chapter at

Freemasons’ Hall, Northampton on 5 October 2004, V. Ill. Bro. Rev. Anthony

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W. Avery was installed as Inspector General by M. P. Bro. Gerald Tedder,

Sovereign Grand Commander. The Sovereign Grand Commander was assisted

by the Grand Prior, M.Ill. Bro. Rev. Michael Morgan; the Grand Marshall,

M.Ill. Bro. Dr. John Wright and the Grand Secretary General, M.Ill.Bro. Robin

Furber.

The chair of the Chapter was taken, on this special occasion by E&P Bro..

James Avery P. Sov., the son of the new Inspector General. The Third Point

was ably performed by M. P. Bro. Richard Sandbach, the past Sovereign Grand

Commander who had recently retired from that office.

Ill. Bro. John Humphrey continued to serve as District Recorder until ill-health

prevented him from continuing so that, on 1 December 2011, Ill. Bro.

Christopher Smith of the St. Crispin Chapter No. 642 was appointed as District

Recorder.

CONCLUSIONS.

This history has, I hope, traced the origins of the District from the earliest days

following the formation of Supreme Council in 1845. For most of those early

years, the governance of the Antient and Accepted Rite was in the safe hands of

many hereditary members of the nobility, the Army, and members of the

Colonial Service. Like many other organisations, the highest echelons of the

Order were markedly changed after the 1st World War as country estates and

dynasties became less viable and the influence of the British Empire receded.

As late as the 1960s, many members of Supreme Council were ex-military men

although those memberships began to wane and their places were taken by

professionals from the law, medicine, the church and academia.

This national trend was mirrored in the District of Northamptonshire and

Huntingdonshire; the reign of those Inspectors General who had military

backgrounds ended with the retirement of Brig. Morley in 1962. Since then, the

District has, like the Rite in general, been governed by men from the

professions. Despite their professional responsibilities, they have given many

hours of their time and enthusiasm to guide and encourage our members and

Chapters and the Order has continued to flourish.

In 1973 there were 341 members in the District; by 2005 this had grown to 568.

At the time of writing, there are 580 members. This buoyant membership is not

consistent across other Districts and these variations do lead one to speculate

about the reasons for our relative success.

I believe that the very high level of support which the District received, and

continues to receive from both past and present Rulers of the Craft in this

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Province is the principal reason for our stability. As members of the Antient

and Accepted Rite, we must continue to support our Craft Lodges to reciprocate

the support which we receive from them. In this way, both organisations will

continue to flourish and when a further addition is made to this brief history

many years hence, I hope that its author will be able to report that we continue

from strength to strength.

I wish to express my gratitude to the Recorders of the Chapters throughout the

District for searching their archives for details of Consecrations and events

during each Chapter’s history. On occasions, many of the intriguing events are

not recorded in the usual Minute Books or on Summonses for the various

meetings. As a result, it has proved difficult to piece together the sequence of

events which led to the formation of each Chapter or indeed to discover the

“prime movers” in such matters. I hope that future historians will forgive me

for placing my own interpretation on events where things were not formally

recorded – I hope that they are not too fanciful or inaccurate!.

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STATISTICS

Members Perf Join Dec Res Excl Hon Members

Last Year at 30 June 2015

Thomas A Becket 35 2 0 0 0 0 0 37

David Earl of Huntingdon 55 1 0 0 2 0 0 54

St. George of England 36 1 0 1 1 0 0 35

Medeshamstede 40 1 0 0 0 0 0 41

Cytringhan 43 2 0 0 1 0 0 44

Peverel 36 2 0 0 1 0 0 37

Saint Crispin 39 1 0 1 0 0 0 39

Mercia 36 2 0 1 2 0 1 34

Dr. Crucefix 40 2 1 0 1 0 0 42

St. Lawrence the Martyr 42 3 0 0 0 0 0 45

Beneventa 33 2 0 0 0 0 0 35

Good Intent 48 2 1 0 1 0 0 50

Castle Ashby 88 0 2 0 3 0 0 87

571 21 4 3 12 0 1 580