Lodge History

So, how did it all start?

The Lodge of St Barnabas was consecrated in 1946, having been sponsored by the Priory Lodge 5819, where a number of the founders were already members.

For approximately two years leading up to the consecration the founders held regular meetings to agree upon the objectives of the lodge, as well as its name. These meetings, of which we still have records in our archives, were held at the Prince of Wales Tavern in Blackheath. The founders referred to themselves as the “Itinerants”.

The Lodge founders, having chosen to meet on Saturday’s, held their meetings at The Shakespeare Hotel in Woolwich. An interesting venue, being a famous Jazz club in the 1950’ and 60’s.

One of the key principles for the founding members was that great attention was paid to the ritual and that this should be something the Lodge became recognised for. As such, the founders would spend time monitoring and guiding the brethren as they worked their way through to the Master’s chair. An early form of the modern role of the Lodge Mentor.

In the early 1960’s the Lodge moved its meetings to the newly built Westwood Masonic Centre in Welling where we meet to this day.

Why St Barnabas?

The name St Barnabas was chosen by the founding Chaplin of the Lodge, the Reverend Corliss, due to its local connection with Woolwich.

The Church of St Barnabas was originally situated in the Royal Dockyard at Woolwich, where ships for the Royal Navy was built. As demand for larger ships increased, the shipyard became redundant and the church was moved to Well Hall, Eltham. Soon after it was seriously damaged by fire during WWII. Within the original walls a temporary structure was erected, and St Barnabas became known locally as the “Church within a Church”, seen as a symbol of the fortitude and fresh resolve of the post war era.

The Lodge Banner

One of the most important part of our history is our Lodge Banner.

The design of the Banner was overseen by the first Chaplain of the Lodge, the Reverend Corliss and another founder, W.Bro. Charles Quilley, who was a master jeweller by profession.

The banner was presented to the Lodge, at the eighth regular meeting in January 1948, by the W.Bro. Wheeler and the unveiled but Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro. Wing Commander Bertram Wilfred Noble.

At the top of the banner, you will see the sun, rising in the East and regularly diffusing light and lustre to all within its circle. The sun being an important symbol in Freemasonry and referred to in the opening and closing of the Lodge, and as a pattern for imitation to a Master on his installation. It can be seen sitting on top of the name of the Lodge where we hope its rays will never set.

The local association with the St Barnabas refers to the Church of St Barnabas, which currently resides in Well Hall, in the Eltham and Mottingham Deanery.

Appended to the title of the Lodge is our number in the Register of the United Grand Lodge of England, 6315.

St Barnabas is seen holding the volume of the Sacred Law and stands on the black and white flooring of the Lodge, symbolising the light and darkness, joy and sorrow of our chequered existence.

Supporting the main design is our motto in Latin, Erat-Vir-Bonus, meaning “He was a good man”.

It is a tradition in our Lodge to this day, that a full explanation of the Lodge Banner is delivered by one our Past Master during our May meeting.

The motto surmounts our Kentish sign, the rampant horse, Invicta, ever to remind us that we are members of the Province of West Kent.

St. Barnabas today

74 years on from our consecration, the members of St Barnabas strive to achieve a balance between maintaining the key principles of the Lodge as well and embracing the demands of modern freemasonry.

So, the founders’ tradition of the maintaining high standards of the masonic ritual remains an important component of St Barnabas reputation.

© 2024 Lodge of St Barnabas