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Warrington holds a unique place in the chronicled history of English Freemasonry. The earliest known record of anyone being initiated into an English lodge appears in the diary of Elias Ashmole, of Lichfield. In an entry for October 1646 he wrote

1646, Oct: 16, 4.30 P.M. I was made a Free Mason at Warrington in Lancashire, with Col (onel) Henry Mainwaring of Karnicham in Cheshire. The names of those that were then of the Lodge (were) Mr Rich. Penketh, Warden, Mr James Collier, Mr Rich.Sankey, Henry Littler, John Ellam, Rich.Ellam and Hugh Brewer.

(The surnames of two of the lodge members are of course familiar to local residents as the names of local districts on the outskirts of Warrington).

Today, Freemasonry in Warrington is very strong with the fifteen lodges all meeting at the Masonic Hall in Winmarleigh Street in the town centre. The oldest lodge still meeting in Warrington was founded in 1765, whilst the youngest was founded as recently as 1990.

The Masonic Hall provides a well appointed venue for lodge meetings as well as for the social functions and dinners organised by the members. Whilst each lodge is autonomous and entirely responsible for its own business and financial affairs, the Group system brings them all into the larger Masonic “family” of the Province. Each lodge elects a representative to the Group, which is presided over by a Chairman and his Officers.

As a body, the Group organises events and social functions for the benefit of all its members and the local community. The benefit to the members is felt in the wider circle of social contacts made between members of different lodges. This aspect is further demonstrated in the Masonic Fellowship and the Winmarleigh Luncheon Club, which are organisations meeting once each month and supported by the Group. They exist to encourage social aspects of members’ lives and to create good fellowship and to promote and sustain personal friendships. The Masonic Fellowship is open to brethren retired from full time employment and their wives, and to widows of brethren. The Winmarleigh Luncheon Club is for the widows of Masons. It enables existing friendships between the ladies to continue, and promotes the formation of new friendships.

The benefit of Group activities to the local community is perhaps most readily seen in the donations of gifts to local charities resulting from the many fund-raising events. In recent years donations have been made to the St.Rocco’s Hospice, the Elderly Persons’ Unit at the Warrington General Hospital and to the Warrington Crossroads Carers Scheme, Warrington Disability Partnership, British Heart Foundation and many other local charities.

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