"Spring Into Freemasonry"
Friday 20th February saw the Brethren of St.Lawrence lodge perform their first double initiation in over 20 years.
An excellent ceremony was topped off by a highly enjoyable festive board, full of laughter, great food and an ever so slightly boisterous version of the St.Lawrence hymn!
Friday 20th February 2026.
Next up, we are doing a double initiation ceremony.
On Friday 20th February , we will be initiating not one, but two candidates into our lodge. This brings the total to four since our installation meeting in October last year.
Come along and watch as our two newest canditates take their first regular step into Freemasonry.
Lodge of Instruction.
Thuesday 19th February is our officer's rehearsal. Our last chance to try to add a bit of polish to the proceedings. It's a good chance to use the temple , and also have a crafty beer or two . See you all there.
Installation Meeting
A night to remember
Friday evening saw W.Bro. Gary Bacon installed into the chair of King Solomon in an amazing ceremony filled with smiles, fun and excellent ritual.
Installing Master Alistair delivered a first class performance, as we've all come to expect, whilst our new WM installed his officers with aplomb .
The first & second degree tools were delivered in true St.Lawrence style, whilst the third degree tools were delivered in a faultless performance by our guest for the evening, and grandson of one of the lodge's founders, Bro. Lawrence Wood.
The whole evening was topped off by an excellent festive board with lot's of laughter.
A massive thank you to all our visitors for the evening, we hope you enjoyed yourselves and come back again soon.
Buckinghamshire Football Lodge No.10067
Friday May 30th saw a few of the brethren of St.Lawrence attending the consecration of a brand new lodge in the Province.
Friday 21st March 2025
Our meeting on Friday evening saw us raise Bro. Syed to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, and also allowed us to celebrate our 50th Anniversary.
We had a good turn out of visitors to witness the ceremony, and to enjoy the festive board afterwards.
It was an excellent evening with some good ritual, excellent food and fabulous company. Thanks to all those who attended , and to all the Brethren who helped make the ceremony go so well.
Finally, massive thanks to Bro. Peter for the cake, balloons and the rather excellent pin badges.
Our 50th Anniversary meeting
The Brethren of St.Lawrence posing for a few pics after the meeting and enjoying the marvellous festive board with their visitors.
Friday 21st February
The brethren of St. Lawrence performed a ceremony of raising (third degree) on Friday evening. It was an excellent ceremony with lot's of really good ritual dellivered by the team. Bro. David had a great night, with lot's of laughs (and dodgy singing) in the festive board afterwards.
Burns' Night, 17th January 2025
Our annual white table event
Poetry, haggis, whisky and a piper..... what more could we ask for?
Friday 15th November 2024
Ceremony of passing
Friday evening saw us pass Bro. Dayan to the degree of a fellow craft. It was a great ceremony, with excellent ritual all round, followed by a fun festive board afterwards. Bro. Dayan now has a bit of time to enjoy learning for the next step.
Our Installation meeting
On Friday evening, we installed W.Bro. Alistair into the chair of King Solomon for his second year. It was an excellent ceremony, performed by all, with an outstanding performance by our stand in Inner Guard , Bro. David. David is an FC freemason, and was only asked to fill in the evening before, so very well done. An excellent festive board followed, with lots of great food and plenty of laughter. And, dare I mention the St. Lawrence hymn???
A fun , friendly lodge in the heart of Marlow
St.Lawrence Lodge is in the Province of Buckinghamshire.
The lodge meets on the third Friday of the month, October, November, January , February & March.
Patron of the Grand Charity
Grand Patron of the RMTGB 2010 Appeal
Patron of the New Masonic Samaritan Fund
Patron of the BMBF 2014 Appeal
Vice Patron of the Masonic Charitable Foundation
Consecrated 28th February 1975
What is Freemasonry?
One of the oldest social and charitable organisations in the world, Freemasonry's roots lie in the traditions of the medieval stonemasons who built our cathedrals and castles.
It is here that a number of the famous elements of Freemasonry find their roots. In the medieval era, stonemasons often travelled around to find work in different locations. To demonstrate their level of qualification, they would use grips, words and signs in order to distinguish themselves from unqualified builders.
Freemasonry uses building analogies to teach members how to lead productive lives that benefit the communities that they live in. In the medieval era, stonemasons wore aprons and gloves to protect themselves while working on shaping rough pieces of stone, but in today’s society Freemasons meet to build friendships and communities rather than cathedrals and castles.
Babble Ride Across Britain
Lands End to John O'Groats cycle ride .
Our WM, Alistair Collins, is undertaking the mammoth task of cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats. He is doing this on behalf of Alzheimer's Society. Full story and more images to follow.
On Sunday 15th September , our WM finished his ride from Land's End to John O'Groats. This was an epic adventure , and we're all immensely proud of his achievement , and look forward to hearing all about it from the horses mouth, so to speak.
The St. Lawrence Lodge Banner
The St Lawrence Lodge Banner was designed by W.Bro Eddie Clinch, P.A.G.Supt.Wks., P.P.G.W.
(Bucks), however it is not known who made the banner, this information seems to have been lost in
the mist of time. W.Bro Eddie was a member of Norman Arches Lodge which also had as a member,
Bro Gordon Drew, a local baker and the St Lawrence Lodge founding Inner Guard. W.Bro Eddie
Clinch, was a brilliant artist and craftsman who was also the mastermind behind the refurbishment
of the building in Marlow to create the Marlow Masonic Temple.
The founders of the St Lawrence Lodge regularly met in the Bricklayers Arms Pub, in Downley, High
Wycombe to discuss the formation of a new lodge and have a few beers along the way. The original
name proposed for the Lodge was to be the Downley Lodge, but at that time the name was not
considered suitable by United Grand Lodge and the Province. The reason for Downley Lodge not
being appropriate is not now known. It is however thought that as Hughenden Lodge was the
Mother Lodge and Wycombe Lodge our Grandmother Lodge of St Lawrence Lodge, there would
have been too many lodges from the same area, Downley being the next ‘village’ to Hughenden,
both close to the centre of High Wycombe.
A number of the founders also attended St Lawrence Church in West Wycombe, as well as the
Bricklayers Arms, it was decided to adopt the name of the church and build an association with the
church. This association went on for many years with an annual church service being held in August
to commemorate the life of St Lawrence, who was burnt on a Grid Iron as a consequence of his
unshaken commitment to his Christian faith. This annual event ceased a few years ago when there
was a change in clergy at the church. The Church has now closed.
The Banner itself depicts the famous Golden Ball from the tower of St Lawrence Church West
Wycombe as the main centre piece, the names and Offices of all the founders of the Lodge are
around the centre piece. The Golden Ball on the church was built by the infamous Hell Fire Club as a
place where they enjoyed illicit gambling sessions on Sunday mornings with the lookout able to see
any advancing Peelers approaching across the Wye Valley, when the gamblers joined the
congregation in the church below.
After several sessions in the Bricklayers arms the Lodge was consecrated on the 28 th February 1975
at the Marlow Masonic Centre by RW.Bro Sir Ralph Verney, Provincial Grand Master, with VWBro
Lord Burnham as Deputy Grand Master, VWBro Lawrence Verney, Assistant Grand Master and
W.Bro Eric Deung as Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. (Lord Burnham and Eric Deung both
going on to be Provincial Grand Masters). The Consecration banquet was held at the Complete
Angler, Marlow.
The Founding Master of St Lawrence Lodge was WBro Don McAlpine, who as a Scot introduced
Burns Night meetings to St Lawrence. These were always very well attended with over a hundred in
the Temple and dining at Marlow. St Lawrence Buns night meetings were renown throughout The
Province these meetings were unique in Buckinghamshire. W.Bro Don McAlpine also introduced
‘rusty nails’ a lethal mixture of Brandy and Drambuie. Burns meetings now being common place
throughout the Province has diminished the importance of this meeting to St Lawrence, you could
however argue that our founding Master introduced Robbie Burns to the Province of
Buckinghamshire.
The Founding Secretary was W.Bro Frank Shackell, who a year later became Provincial Grand
Secretary. In 2008 W.Bro Frank Shackell was presented with a certificate to mark an incredible
seventy years in Freemasonry. RW. Bro Ray Reed then Provincial Grand Master attended with
VW.Bro Nelson Hall, Deputy Provincial Grand Master and W.Bro Peter Harborne, Assistant Provincial
Grand Master. There was also present three other Past Provincial Grand Secretaries together with
the then current Provincial Grand Secretary, five Provincial Grand Secretaries in all.
The first Joining member of St Lawrence was Bro Don Varney who was bitterly disappointed not to
have been a founding member. Bro Don was a tremendous supporter of the Lodge and all its
members, he always had time for the Junior Brethren. Bro Don presented the four silver goblets
used by Masters, Wardens and the IPM today. He presented the goblets the year he was Master of
the Lodge as he did not have a Ladies Night. Bro Don had a very distinguished Masonic career ending
up as VW, Bro Don Varney, Deputy Provincial Grand Master.
The first Initiate of St Lawrence was Bro Peter Goodwin, who having worked through the Offices of
the Lodge. Following his year as Master, W.Bro Peter had a long career as the Lodge Organist of St
Lawrence although in latter years when arthritis set it occasionally became right notes but not
necessarily in the right order, a great character missed within the Lodge.
St. Lawrence church, West Wycombe
This is the church in West Wycombe from where we took our name.
Contact us
Bro. Jason Richardson : 07584 281122
Bro. Peter Demetriou : 07719 4359
info@stlawrence8629.co.uk