History of Waynflete Lodge
On Wednesday, 11th October 1922, the Waynflete Lodge was consecrated at the Town Hall, Brackley by W.Bro. Thomas Horton, PGD, Deputy Provincial Grand Master. W. Bro. C.E. Barnes was installed as the first Worshipful Master. The Lodge Members have in general been residents from the local area and included amongst their numbers many of high civic and social positions in the community. The Lodge has never had a permanent Temple in Brackley but since 1929 has made the Town Hall its meeting place. The Lodge’s number is 4452 and takes its origin from the sponsoring mother lodge, The Lodge of Fidelity number 445.
The Lodge is located at Brackley. Brackley, originally founded on agriculture with its wealth being generated from the Sheep Trade in the 21st century is home to part of the Worlds motor racing industry.
For the first few years, the Lodge meetings were held at the Church Institute in Cross Lane, afterwards re-named Halse Road, the first meeting being held in the said building on Wednesday, 19th October 1922 and the last on Wednesday 16th January 1929. At an Installation meeting held at the Church Institute on Wednesday, 19th November 1924, there were 97 members and visitors present; how they were crowded into that small room it is difficult to imagine. After that very crowded meeting, the Installation meetings were held in the Town Hall, Brackley, and on Wednesday 20th February 1929 the Lodge meetings moved to the Town Hall.
Until 1937, eight meetings were held each year, in October to May inclusive, but in 1937, the October meeting was deleted and some time later re-instated with the Lodge eventually moving to a September through April season. During the second World War with the exception of the December meeting, business was conducted as usual.
Sulgrave Manor being located close to Brackley, on 16th
November 1933, the Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (Southern Jurisdiction USA) presented to
the Lodge a picture of George Washington whose forebears came from Sulgrave
Manor and on the 21st March 1945, 10 Brethren from the United States of America
attended as visitors at the Lodge meeting.
In 1953 the Province and Waynflete Lodge suffered a grievous blow when on 18th November, W.Bro. E.C. Gravestock BEM PGD, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master at that time, whilst giving the Address to the Master at the Installation meeting collapsed and died.
The Installation meeting of 1981 was notable, as three generations of one family took part in the ceremony, the Worshipful Master, W.Bro. M.B. Carney was given the Charge in two sections by his father and grandfather.
In 1997 the Lodge celebrated its 75th anniversary, when the sponsoring Mother Lodge, The Lodge of Fidelity which meets at Towcester, presented to the Lodge a set of gavels which are used by the Master and Wardens to the present day.
Over the life of the Lodge festive boards have been held in a variety of locations within the Town but from 2002 the Festive Board was held at the Town Hall so as to preserve the integrity of the meetings.
From 1922 regular Classes of Instruction were held at a variety of venues in the Town and in 2004 the Classes of instruction were changed into Lodges of Instruction and held at the Town Hall with all formalities being observed.
The Lodge since its consecration has held Ladies Festivals and in conjunction with development of a Lodge of Instruction in 2004 it inaugurated a Lodge of Instruction annual dinner.
The Lodge raised its profile in the local community in 2002 with the general move towards a more open attitude to Masonry. While attending regular civic events over the entirety of the Lodges existence since 2002 specific reports regarding the Lodges activity started to appear in the local press.
Members of the Lodge along with the WM all make visits to take part in the remembrance day parade and the Mayor Making ceremony.