1865 was a time of great change, politically and economically, both locally and on a global scale. The British Empire, under the rule of Queen Victoria, is the largest in the world. General Robert E Lee surrenders to Ulysses Grant, effectively ending the American Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, the advocate for ending slavery in America, is assassinated. The Matterhorn is conquered, George V is born and the Salvation Army is founded.
Meanwhile, in a small, developing part of the Clifton family estate, in the northwest of England, a group of visionaries meet. They have one dream to create a new Masonic lodge on the Fylde coast. On 14 June 1865, this dream becomes a reality and Lodge of Triumph No 1061 is consecrated.
On a warm, sunny evening in May 2025, 25 brethren gathered to celebrate this historic event and the milestone of 160 years of Lodge of Triumph. It was celebrated with a ladies and gents to dine evening and as luck would have it, the date coincided with the 80th year celebration of VE Day.
The meeting’s proceedings were efficiently discharged, expertly led by WM Mike Boxall. Once the meeting had closed, a welcome drink of prosecco and canapés was enjoyed by all in the bar area at the St Annes Palace Masonic Hall before the brethren and their guests proceeded to the festive board, where the conversation flowed and the room was filled with laughter and goodwill. The evening got underway, accompanied by a sumptuous feast being provided by the ever-excellent Lee Munro and his catering team. Visiting is highly recommended, with polished ceremonies and excellent food, it never fails to impress.
After the main course, junior warden Jordan Brown gathered everyone’s attention and was clearly proud to have the opportunity to welcome the brethren and their guests to celebrate the lodge reaching such a historic milestone. His speech gave an interesting insight into the St Annes of 1865, the year of consecration. At this time, St Annes was an undeveloped part of the Clifton family estate. It would be another 10 years before the town of St Annes was officially founded, with the development of railway links helping it to grow into a Victorian seaside resort.
Consecrated on June 14, 1865, Lodge of Triumph is the oldest Masonic lodge in the South Fylde Group, and it is believed that the Lodge of Triumph was so named due to the coat-of-arms motto of the Clifton family, ‘Martum Aut Triumpham’. The family have owned the land of St Annes and surrounding areas since 1606, which began with Cuthbert Clifton of Westby, who bought the land after the dissolution of the monasteries.
A lodge of rich history, it has stood the test of time with generations of men passing through its doors in a spirit of fellowship, personal growth and service to others. The charity giving on the first ever meeting totalled £10 10s, which approximates to £1,600 in 2025. An impressive sum indeed. Jordan Brown went on to say that a lot of Masonic work happens quietly behind the scenes, but its impact can be seen in charitable giving, support for local causes and the enduring bonds of friendship formed by members from all walks of life. The lodge is looking forward to a future, shaped by the same values of integrity, compassion and unity.
One of the charities being supported by Freemasons in the South Fylde Group is Home-Start. Peter Grihault gave a moving speech on behalf of Adrian May, the WM of Baines Lodge No 7844, which appealed for anyone who could spare some time to help with upcoming refurbishments to their fundraising shop, which is located in St Annes. This charity offers support and mentorship and that all-important ‘someone to talk to’ without judgement or criticism. Their volunteers visit homes, offer support groups and organise social gatherings and outings. Last year, the charity transformed the lives of 58,000 children. Without government funding, it relies on donations and the often under-appreciated and over-looked work of volunteers.
The laughter continued into the evening as Jordan Brown drew numbers for the raffle and Peter Grihault provided some light entertainment whilst modelling the fine prizes to be won which had been kindly donated by the brethren and their guests on the evening. A total of £344 was raised on the night, which was rounded off with the ever-charismatic WM Mike Boxall delivering his thank-you speech. He thanked everyone for supporting the evening and he had the guests in stitches with his witty one-liners and remarks.
The lodge is well-supported and has maintained its values, ethics and principles of Freemasonry on which it was originally founded. It continues to support and develop new Masons, having initiated its newest member, Jack Todd, in April 2025. It continues to support local charities and most importantly, offers friendship and companionship to the members and their families. Whilst it could be argued that every lodge needs more members, it is important to remember that it is about recruiting the right members with the right attitudes, outlooks and morals. Based on this celebratory evening, Lodge of Triumph certainly has those in abundance and if this continues into the future, the bi-centenary in 2065 will be something to behold indeed.
