On Thursday 12 April St Peter's Lodge celebrated its 175 anniversary with a banner dedication. This was conducted by the PGM, RWBro Max Bayes with the assistance of his Provincial team including the PGChap, WBro Ray Hemmingray.
During the ceremony, the Lodge Secretary, WBro Richard Thurlow, gave an interesting account of the Lodge's history.
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(l to r) Provincial Team, WBro John Hitchin PGSW, WBro Charles Bennett PGDC, RWBro Max Bayes PGM, WBro Ray HemmingrayPGChap, WBro John Rivett PGJW |
It was consecrated under the Ancients' Grand Lodge on 26 July 1802 with the number 160B. Shortly afterwards it was registered under the Moderns' Grand Lodge with the number 596.
Following the consecration in 1802 the first Lodge Lewis was initiated. He was the son of the then Chaplin, Revd Samuel Oliver. His son, George Oliver, eventually become Dr George Oliver, a leading light in Freemasonry after whom a Peterborough Lodge is named.
In 1807 the then PGM, the Earl of Pomfret, constituted St Peters as the Provincial Grand Lodge. In 1813, following the Union of the Grand Lodges, the Lodge was re-numbered from 596 to 605.
The Lodge appeared to flourish until about 1822 when some unknown difficulties beset a number of Lodges in the country. It is not known whether the Lodges perhaps stopped meeting or at least did not record such meetings and likewise ceased to communicate with the Grand Lodge. In 1828 St Peters was one of 59 Lodges that were erased.
However, there is a record that the Lodge continued to meet but not undertaking any Masonic work. Perhaps it is therefore not surprising that in 1836 a petition was made to re-form St Peters Lodge. The petition was granted in December 1836 with the number of 646. At a meeting on 14 January 1837, the then Grand Junior Deacon, Dr Robert Crucifix attended.