St Lukes Chapter Celebrate 75th Anniversary
On Wednesday 20th November, St Lukes Chapter celebrated their 75th Anniversary.
Their meeting included a visit from the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, Ray Guthrie and the Provincial Team, who performed the Savage Workings, with St Lukes candidate Mark Kerley.
The ceremony was completely different to St Lukes, who have adopted the Aldersgate Ceremony, but the evening was enjoyed by everyone present.
They were pleased to welcome visitors from Bath, Keynsham and other Chapters, including their own Malcolm Brown who moved to Cornwall a number of years ago.
After the ceremony Excellent Companion Julian May gave a short history of the Chapter, which is replicated below:
The history of the Chapter is inevitably wrapped up in the decision by the British Admiralty in 1939 to relocate its wartime operations to the comparative safety of the City of Bath and its post war decision to remain in the city.
St Lukes Lodge No. 6540 was consecrated on 8th November 1947, the Lodge enjoyed considerable prosperity and in July 1948 a mention was made at the Lodge of Instruction to consider a Royal Arch Chapter for the Lodge. As a result, St Lukes Chapter was consecrated on Saturday 4th May 1949 by the then ME Grand Superintendent E Comp J Allan Tucker.
Success continued with at least five visitors on that occasion becoming joining members and eight further propositions for exaltation. Dues at that time were £1.5s.
E Comp Vic Fricker was the first member to receive active Provincial rank as Third Provincial Grand Principal in 1950.
Originally the Chapter relied upon Royal Cumberland No. 41 and Royal Sussex No. 53 for its regalia and furnishings, E Comp Bernard Basham generously supplied the Principals’ Sceptres and 12 ensigns which are still in use today. Other furnishings and effects were donated by individual members over a period of time.
Membership relied on the Admiralty for its source of Candidates with employees coming from Portsmouth, Plymouth, Chatham, Sheerness and London with the complications of several different Workings; Aldersgate Workings were agreed which was in later years changed to Aldersgate Permissive Workings.
A daughter Lodge, Elizabethan No. 7296, was formed by St Lukes Lodge in 1953 and it wasn’t until 1955 that the Minutes shows professions of Candidates not recognisably associated with the Admiralty, such as Company Directors, Bank Officials, a florist and even a Minister of Religion.
On 17h November 1999 the 50th anniversary was celebrated with nearly 60 members and visitors present and honoured by the presence of E Comp Denis Calderley MEGS.
Membership fluctuated over the years and reached around 70 in 1972, today we are less fortunate and survive with around 20 members. It was later in the 20th century that the Admiralty became restructured under the Ministry of Defence with sites relocated outside of the city which contributed to reduced recruitment opportunities.
Following the closure of St Lukes Lodge in 2022 sourcing Candidates has become a greater challenge, coupled with three Chapters in Bath competing for fewer Candidates.
However, St Lukes Chapter has a spirit and uniqueness that justifies its long term survival and it is hoped the companionship witnessed here today will inspire the Chapter to growth and prosperity towards the celebration of its centenary in 2049.
