|
Somerset Lodges
St Kew Lodge No. 1222
warranted 1868
Regular meetings: the first Tuesday at 18.30hrs Jan, Feb, Mar, May, Jun, Oct,
Nov, Dec.
Installation meeting: the first Tuesday at 16.30hrs Apr.
Contact the Lodge Secretary:
David Smith
|
Meeting at
The Masonic Hall
Tivoli Lane
Boulevard
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1NZ
|
|
In
the story of Weston-super-Mare there is an old and oft repeated tradition that
the adjoining village of Kewstoke was named after St. Kew. He, it was said, was
a hermit who lived in a cell, the ruins of which may still be traced, in a
ravine climbed by a long flight of stone steps leading from Kewstoke Church to
the top of Worle Hill. The ravine is known as the "Pass of St. Kew" or
Monks-Steps
The St. Kew Lodge was consecrated in the year 1868, when Weston-super-Mare was a
small town of some 10,000 inhabitants; it is the daughter Lodge of the Lodge of
Agriculture, No. 1199. The Lodge first met at the ‘Assembly Rooms’ and of the
seven Petitioners for the Lodge, four were Bristol Freemasons and from the first
nine officers invested, no less than six were members of Bristol Lodges; the
formation of St. Kew owed much to Brethren from Bristol. Within a year, the
Lodge had moved to the York Hotel and then to the 'Old Town Hall', one of the
oldest buildings in the town, which despite much money being spent to refurbish
it, was “ Causing the brethren some anxiety”; a return to the York Hotel was the
outcome.
In 1880, a purpose built building was approved and the Deputy Provincial Grand
Master, Richard Charles Else, consecrated it in 1881. This imposing building
situated in the Boulevard was used continuously for the next 28 years during
which time, in 1904, it was thought justified to form a second Craft Lodge and
so in 1906, the King Alfred Lodge, No. 3169 was born.
Now that two Lodges were occupying the building, even one that was especially
built for Masonic purposes, the majority of the brethren considered it necessary
to secure larger premises.
Little time was lost and the Boulevard building was sold to the
Weston-super-Mare and District Constitutional Club Limited for £4000, the last
Ceremony took place on 2nd June 1908. Meanwhile, the new building was nearing
completion and on 1st October 1908, the new Masonic Centre was Consecrated. This
present site has been occupied ever since and now contains: Seven Craft Lodges,
two Royal Arch Chapters, one Mark Lodge, two Rose Croix Chapters and one Knight
Templar Preceptory.
On
November 5th 1879, it was agreed to purchase a Lodge Banner, and the Lodge
worked under this banner for the next 121 years. Eventually, due to old age, the
banner was honourably retired being replaced by a new and similar design. On
Tuesday 4th January 2000, R. W. Bro, Stanley H. A. F. Hopkins, the Provincial
Grand Master for Somerset, assisted by the Somerset Provincial Team and the W.
Master of St. Kew, W. Bro. Patrick N. Morrisey dedicated the new Banner. The
Banner was made by Mrs Joan Lake of Weston-super-Mare whose Husband Tony is an
Officer of the Lodge.
back to top of page
|
Illustrated here is the Golden Key used to ceremonially open the
new Masonic Centre in 1908. |
