On Monday 30 th January, members of the St. John’s Lodge No. 80, accompanied by Tom Gittins Provincial Secretary travelled to London to attend and take part in the Installation of the new Worshipful Master of St John’s Lodge No. 80 who now meet at Great Queen Street within Metropolitan Grand Lodge, following their move from Sunderland to London.

WBro Ed Chandler installed his successor WBro Ian Balcombe in an excellent manner, the meeting being held in Lodge Room No. 9 – a first Lodge meeting for many in what we like to know as Grand Lodge!

St. John’s Lodge 80 originated in Sunderland until its formal move and takes with it a fine history having being consecrated in 1806. The Lodge had of late experienced difficulties with membership numbers when in Sunderland but after much consideration decided not to give up their warrant but to link with the Association of Atholl Lodges and moving the Lodge to London, thereby preserving both the name and number for many years to come.

Details of the Association can be seen from their website at https://antients.org/

Many of the many joining ‘London’ members and existing Sunderland members of the Lodge are keen followers or players of Cricket, so the Lodge is now also known as the St John’s Lodge No. 80, the ‘London Cricket Lodge’.

As part of the special day, a private tour of Lord’s Cricket Ground was arranged by some members and was greatly enjoyed, the London address of Lord’s being in St John’s Wood thereby seeming most appropriate.

Members from Sunderland are planning to continue to attend the Lodge when they are able and look to extend such an invitation to such visits to other Masons within the Province of Durham thereby maintaining strong connections with the Lodge.

More photos in flickr album  here

Stronger together