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Wigan
& District Group of
Lodges & Chapters
FREEMASONRY
IN WIGAN
Freemasonry in Wigan has a long history with its oldest lodge, the Lodge of
Faith, dating back to 6th July 1842. Freemasonry has long been associated
with leading citizens of the town. The Lindsay Lodge, consecrated in 1870,
was named after Lord Lindsay, the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, who held
an estate in the town.
A local builder, Charles Butler Holmes built the Market Hall in Wigan, which
stood for one hundred years before the Galleries, a modern shopping complex,
replaced it. He later became Mayor of the town and the Holmes Lodge was founded
and named after him in 1898. In recent years the Arrowhead Lodge was founded
in 1973 with membership being predominantly for those who have been members
of uniformed youth organisations. As the township expanded to include smaller
towns in the area, so Freemasonry expanded with Lodges now meeting at three
centres: Pemberton, Bryn and Hindley.
An interesting historical fact in local Freemasonry is that in 1823 several
lodges in the north-west broke away from the United Grand Lodge in England
and became known as the Grand Lodge in Wigan and it was only in 1913 that
the last lodge finally returned its allegiance to London. During this period
of Masonic history, the brethren remained intensely loyal to their Sovereign,
Queen Victoria, and on the day of her coronation, Thursday 28 June 1838,
joined in the civic procession through the town wearing their Masonic regalia
and carrying a large banner expressing their support and the words “God
save the Queen”. This banner is still on display today at Pemberton Masonic
Hall.
The Wigan Group which now consists of twenty four lodges, has continued in
its traditions with an annual church service in Wigan Parish Church when the
brethren wear their Masonic regalia. A Masonic Fellowship has been formed
which caters for the needs of retired brethren and their wives and also for
the widows of deceased brethren. Monthly meetings are held with a variety
of speakers attending. Day trips and visits to the theatre are arranged and
every Christmas a Carol Service is held, again in Wigan Parish Church.
The brethren of the Group have supported the Wigan Hospice since it first
opened and donations towards the daily running costs are made regularly. Many
other charitable organisations have received support from individual lodges
and by a Group project for the Millennium; in fact the Group raised sufficient
funds to purchase four motorised scooters for the shopmobility scheme in the
town. The Freemasons of Wigan are proud of their association with the town
and are pleased to continue to give their support to so many worthy causes.
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