Freemasonry in Taunton

The Centre

Nine Craft Lodges and several Masonic side degrees meet at The Masonic Hall, The Crescent, Taunton TA1 4EB.  Originally built as a Roman Catholic Chapel in 1812 the building was dedicated as the Taunton Masonic Hall in 1897 and was extensively refurbished in 2022.  Our Craft lodges meet on various days of the week, have a wide range of interests and would be very pleased to speak to prospective members who are considering joining Freemasonry

Please do get in touch.
Contact one of Taunton’s Lodge Secretaries or use the Contact Us facility on this website’s home page.

News

The Lodges

Unanimity & Sincerity Lodge No 261

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Meets at 18:30 except January on the third Wednesday
Months – Jan (Installation 16:30), Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov and Dec

Warranted in 1788, the Lodge originally met in Ilminster but moved to Taunton just 5 years later. Previously meeting at the London Inn, then Clarkes Hotel in Taunton, the Lodge was responsible for acquiring what is now the Taunton Masonic Hall in the late 19th Century

Contact the Lodge Secretary 📧 Chris Partridge
Contact the Lodge communication officer 📧 261 LCO
Website: Unanimity and sincerity

 

Lodge of St George No 3158

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Meets at 18:30 on the first Monday except May, when it is the second Monday
Months – Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May (Installation 16:30), Oct, Nov and Dec

Warranted in 1906, St George Lodge is the Daughter Lodge of Unanimity & Sincerity. The Lodge was Consecrated at the London Hotel Assembly Rooms in Taunton, (which is now Marks & Spencer) and celebrated it’s Centenary in 2006

Contact the Lodge Secretary: Ron Blake

 

Taunton Deane Lodge No 5221

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Meets at 18:30 except March, on the first Thursday
Months – Jan, Feb, Mar (Installation 16:30), Apr, Oct, Nov and Dec

Consecrated on 1st October 1930, the first Master was Brigadier General C. L. Norman who went on to become Provincial Grand Master for Somerset in 1935.
The 25th anniversary was held on 6th October 1955, RW Bro Norman attended accompanied by numerous Provincial Officers. He was presented with a silver salver inscribed with the signatures of the Lodge Members. This was returned to the Lodge in November 1980 and is used during the alms collection at every meeting.
2005 saw the 75th anniversary celebration when W. Bro. Darren Sinclair initiated his brother Jason into the Lodge.
The Lodge continues to go from strength to strength and welcomes visitors and new members alike.

Contact the Lodge Secretary: Roger Seaton

Queen’s College Lodge No 6988

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Meets at on the third Saturday in March, the second Saturday in May and October and the second Saturday in December
at such hour as the Worshipful Master shall direct
Months – Mar (Installation), May, Oct and Dec

Queen’s is a School Lodge. Historically, our membership from all over the UK, is drawn from former pupils, their relatives, staff and friends associated with Queen’s. Although our roots lie with Queen’s College, we now welcome enquiries from anyone with a genuine interest in Freemasonry whether as a new Initiate or as an existing Joining member. We have a good age spread and enjoy a very friendly atmosphere meeting four times a year, in March, May, October and December, alternately in the morning and afternoon, followed by either lunch or dinner and always welcome an excellent complement of visitors. We maintain a strong connection with the School and hold at least one social event there each year, supporting the School or one of its chosen charities with an annual donation and two prizes to senior pupils at Speech Day for community service activities. For more information, please see the Queen’s College lodge Province Page

Contact the Lodge Secretary: Phil Jubb

Website Queen’s College lodge Province Page
Website Queen’s College Lodge

Lodge Diary
See Lodge Website

Old Aluredian Lodge No. 7724

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Regular meetings: the second Saturday at 17.00hrs Mar, Nov,also the third Saturday at 17.00hrs May,
Installation meeting: the second Saturday at 17.00hrs Sep.
Contact the Lodge Secretary: Lodge Secretary

Although open to members who are not old boys of Kings College (Old Aluredians) it has retained the unique character and atmosphere of a School Lodge, having members from within Somerset and beyond its borders. Meeting on Saturdays it has attracted a steady flow of candidates over the years and celebrated it’s 50th anniversary in 2010. Where weekday meetings and times may not be convenient for you if you feel that a Saturday meeting at 17:00 would suit you, why not come and join us at Old Aluredians for good and friendly company where we would be pleased to help you on your Masonic journey.

Taunton School Lodge No 8215

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Meets in February (2nd Tuesday at 18:15), May (3rd Friday (Installation) at 16:45); September (Friday before
4th Saturday at 18:15) and November (4th Friday at 18:15)

Taunton School Lodge, which meets at the Taunton Masonic Hall, was consecrated in 1968 as the daughter lodge of the London based Old Tauntonian Lodge. The two lodges are strongly linked. Taunton School Lodge is open to former pupils of the school, masters and others closely connected to the school. It is also open to parents of pupils at the school who wish to be initiated into Freemasonry.

Contact the Lodge Secretary: Michael Griffin

Richard Huish Lodge No 8518

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Meets on the fourth Saturday at 18:30 except September
Months – Feb, Apr, Sep (Installation 16:30) and Nov

Members of the Richard Huish Lodge are generally linked to the School / College but we welcome members without such a connection. Masonry is about learning and sharing. As a School Lodge, we meet less frequently than many Lodges, and on a Saturday rather than mid-week, reflecting our school-based origin. School Lodges often have smaller membership but make up for that through camaraderie and encouragement. We have plenty of Visitors from other Lodges, who always receive a warm welcome. If you’re interested in Masonry, and a small and friendly Lodge meeting at weekends is more suitable for you then we’d be pleased to hear from you.

Contact the Lodge Secretary: Charlie Barker

 

Vivary Lodge No 8654

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Meets at 18:30 except October on the third Friday.
Months – Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct (Installation17:00), Nov and Dec

Vivary Lodge was founded in October 1975 to provide a Masonic home for members and potential members coming to Somerset in general and Taunton in particular for business, retirement or just to live

Contact the Lodge Secretary: Alan Clayton

The Vivary News (as below) is published to inform all, including non members, of the activities and interests of the Lodge. The Lodge secretary will be pleased to answer any questions readers may have.

Emergency Services Lodge No 9391

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Meets at such times as the WM may direct
Months – Jan (4th Thursday), Mar (3rd Thursday), Sep (2nd Thursday – Installation) and Nov (3rd Thursday)

Emergency Services Lodge was formed in 1990, specifically to cater for those who, as the name suggests, are either now or were in the past associated with any of the emergency services. Our members are therefore retired or serving members of those services, or have a connection in some way to them, however tenuous. We have a reputation for friendliness and good humour, and regularly participate in fraternal visits to like lodges in neighbouring counties.

Contact the Lodge Secretary: W.Bro Robert Nichols

 

Chapters Meeting in Taunton

Chapter of Sincerity No 261

Meets at – The Masonic Hall, Taunton TA1 4EB at 18:30 (except May) on the second Wednesday in
January, March and May and November. Months – January, March, May (18:00) and November.

Consecrated 30th November 1818Meets at the Masonic Hall, The Crescent, Taunton.

In October 1817 seven Royal Arch Companions from the Chapter of Union in Bridgwater who all were residents of Taunton together with Frederick Walker who described himself as a companion of Caledonian Chapter London but there is no trace of his name in the Registers of that Chapter, signed a petition for a Charter to establish a Royal Arch Chapter in Taunton, suggesting that it should bear the name ‘Unanimity’. The three Principals of Union Chapter No 47 added their recommendation and Supreme Grand Chapter gave its approval on 4th February 1818 but they preferred the name ‘Sincerity’, no one appears to have been upset by this recommendation and so the Chapter became Sincerity Chapter.

 

 

If you would like to find out more about Chapter of Sincerity email 📧 Scribe E – Robert Mark Nicholls or visit our web page by clicking Here

 

Chapter of St George 3158

Meets at – The Masonic Hall, Taunton TA1 4EB at 18:30 on the last Thursday in February and
October; the first Wednesday in May; and the second Thursday in December. Months –
February, May (18:00), October and December.

Consecrated 10th September 1954 Meets at The Masonic Hall, The Crescent, Taunton.

The consecration of the Chapter of St. George on the 10th September 1954 very much reflected the start of the Lodge of St George in 1906. At that time there was only one Craft Lodge in Taunton, the Lodge of Unanimity and Sincerity No. 261. The increase in popularity in Freemasonry at the start of the 20th century meant that there was an extremely long waiting list for initiation. As a result it was decided by the brethren of that Lodge to sponsor a new Craft Lodge. Thus in April 1906 the Lodge of St George came into being with all its founding members coming from the Lodge of Unanimity and Sincerity.

 

 

If you would like to find out more about the Chapter of St George email 📧 Scribe-e David John Palmer or visit our web page by clicking Here

 

Taunton Deane Chapter 5221

Meets at – The Masonic Hall, Taunton TA1 4EB at 18:30 except May on the fourth Friday in
May (18:00), the first Friday in September and the first Tuesday in December.

Consecrated 7th February 1987 Meets at The Masonic Hall, The Crescent, Taunton.

Until 1985 there were two Royal Arch Chapters working in Taunton; the Chapter of Sincerity No. 261, founded in 1818 and the Chapter of St. George founded in 1954. It was at this time that several Brethren of Taunton Deane Lodge No. 5221 sought the support of the Grand Superintendent M.E. Comp Sir Lionel Brett, to for-fill their wish in forming a third Royal Arch Chapter. Vivary Lodge No.8654, the majority of whose members worked for the Civil Service in Taunton, also wished to have a Royal Arch Chapter attached to their Lodge.

To find out more about Taunton Dean Chapter email 📧 Scribe -E- Donald Heys or visit our website by clicking Here

Directions

From the North and East, follow the main ‘through’ route through the town; signed A38 Exeter. Just past Temple Methodist Church and before Pedestrian Tfc L turn right into ‘The Crescent’. MH approx 45yds on right; entrance through small blue door on left of steps. Limited parking adjoining Hall but PCP (Pay and Display before 18.00 hours) down turning off Crescent further north. On- street parking in The Crescent after 18.00 hours.

From the West, enter town along Wellington Road, follow main ‘through’ route signed A38 Bristol, turn left into The Crescent just after Police Station and Pedestrian Tfc L. MH as from the north and east.

From Minehead, turn left at R/Abt at ‘Cross Keys’ at the junction of the B3227 and A361;; turn right at the next R/Abt (marked Wellington), continue across railway bridge to next R/Abt and turn left on to Wellington Road, then as ‘From the West’.

what3words location ///tour.cooks.vibrates

 

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