The idea that there should be a Royal Arch Chapter attached to the Preston Portcullis Lodge was initially conceived by Comp. Richard Sunderland, a Past Master of that Lodge, and a member of the Chapter of Unanimity No.113. At the Installation Meeting of the Lodge, in May 1963, Comp. Sunderland took the opportunity to raise with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Preston Group, E. Comp. E.W. Wells and E. Comp. C.W. Rogers, the possibility of forming a Chapter attached to the Lodge. Comp. Sunderland, who was very persuasive in putting the case for a new Chapter, received a favourable reaction from these two distinguished companions and was given the task of acting as secretary to the Founders. He convened a meeting of companions, who were all old boys of Preston Grammar School and who were interested in the project. Following considerable discussion a proposition that formal steps should be taken towards the founding of the Preston Portcullis Chapter was put to the assembled companions by E. Comp. L. Margerison and it was seconded by Comp. A. Langley. It was, of course, carried enthusiastically.

The first meeting of the Founders was held at the Bull & Royal Hotel, Preston, on the 8th of July 1963 and the chair was taken by E. Comp. Rogers who, in his remarks to the assembled companions, referred to the fact that there were only 6 R.A. Chapters for 26 Lodges in the Preston Group and that this new chapter would provide an excellent opportunity for Old Boys who wished to support the Order of the Royal Arch. He also said that there were many Old Boys who, for a variety of reasons, joined Lodges other than Preston Portcullis Lodge and that it was very likely that they would welcome the opportunity of joining the new Chapter.

Several Founders' meetings were held, some at the Bull & Royal Hotel, and others at the offices of E. Comp. Wells in West Cliff. It was decided that the founding three Principals should be the senior Founders, namely, E. Comp. E.W. Wells P.A.G.Soj., as Z; E.Comp. C.W. Rogers P.G.Std.B., as H; and E. Comp. A. Sample P.Pr.D.G.Reg., as J. Other important decisions that were taken included the place at which meetings would be held, the dates of meetings, founding officers and so on. The last of the Founders' meetings was held at the offices of E. Comp. Wells and there is an amusing minute recorded at the end of the meeting which reads: "There being no further business the meeting was closed by the Chairman at a time which, due to the somewhat peculiar behaviour of the office clock, could only be diagnosed by the Chairman by signs, tokens and a system of accountancy peculiar to the office in which the meeting was held."

It was agreed that meetings of the Chapter should be held at the Bull & Royal Hotel, following the practice of Preston Portcullis Lodge, rather than at the Preston Masonic Hall, and that they should be on the fourth Thursday in September (Installation Meeting) and the second Mondays of December, February & April, i.e. those months when the Lodge did not normally meet.

The Consecration Meeting was held at the Bull & Royal Hotel on Thursday, 15th October 1964 and was conducted by the Grand Superintendent, Most Excellent Companion L.E.Rutherford assisted by other distinguished Grand and Provincial Grand Officers. The Oration during the consecration was given by the Third Provincial Grand Principal, E. Comp. Thomas L. Walsh and in it he made reference to the word 'Portcullis' meaning a kind of doorway and its relationship to the porchway or entrance of a Masonic Lodge or Chapter. The Consecration was followed by an excellent seven course dinner.

At the subsequent meeting in December the first exaltation ceremony was held when Bro. Leslie Cunliffe, a member of Preston Portcullis Lodge was exalted and, thus, he has the distinction of being the first exaltee of the new Chapter as well as being the Candidate of the first 1st Principal.

At the same meeting Comp. J. L. Lancaster, a member of Royal Preston Chapter No.333 and an old boy of the School, became the first joining member. The exaltees over the following years came from the ranks of Old Boys and most of them were from Preston Portcullis Lodge. But when the Lodge decided that, due to the closure of the School, it could no longer rely on being able to draw its new members from its traditional source it would have to widen its catchment, the Chapter naturally followed suit. In recent years a majority of its new members have come from Halcyon Lodge No.6500.

Having held its meetings at the Bull & Royal Hotel for 9 years the Chapter moved to Preston Masonic Hall and the first convocation at the new venue was held on Thursday, 12th April 1973, at which Bro. Colin Williams was exalted. With this change of venue came an alteration to the meeting dates to the 4th Thursday in September, the 4th Friday in November, and the 2nd Thursdays in February and April.

Over the years the Chapter has been honoured by having among its members a number of distinguished companions, notably, the Founders E. Companions E.W. Wells & C.W. Rogers; E. Comp. C. Kay who became Assistant to the Grand Superintendent; E. Comp. W.D. Fairclough who has the honour of being the first exaltee of the Chapter to be appointed to Grand Rank and E. Companions R.D. Challen, C. Williams and J. Ashcroft all of whom have received Grand Rank.

Special mention must also be made of E. Companion Richard Sunderland who, in addition to being the instigator of the Chapter in 1963, was the founding Scribe Ezra and held that position until 1989. He, too, was appointed to Grand Rank in 1991 and was elected an Honorary Member at the convocation held on the 26th September 2002 in recognition of 25 years devoted service to the Chapter as Scribe E. Since 1989 the Chapter has been fortunate to have E.Comp. D. Hewertson in that office and he has continued the same high standard set by his distinguished predecessor.

The Chapter continues to thrive and it can truly be said that it has lived up to the aspirations of the Founders; the membership currently stands at 43 and it looks forward to exalting more new members at forthcoming convocations in 2003/2004.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Grateful thanks are due to E. Comp. Richard Sunderland for providing source material, by means of his own booklet 'The First 25 Years', for this short history and for his advice and help in its preparation.