Kent Museum of Freemasonry

Museum & Library

It was a great honour to see some of our Museum volunteers today receiving recognition for their commitment and contributions to volunteering in Canterbury at the Museum.

They were presented by the Sheriff of Canterbury, Cllr Keji Moses. Other volunteers also received their certificates such as Canterbury Christchurch University, Canterbury & District Early Days project etc.

It was humbling to see all the volunteers present and to hear their stories.

We have been very busy, check out the following link.

A Generous Gift: The Dr Teddy Church Prize in History – Alumni News A Generous Gift: The Dr Teddy Church Prize in History By Anna Pollard | 07 May 2024 The University of Kent and the Kent Museum of Freemasonry are delighted to announce the establishment of the Dr Teddy Church Prize in History. This prestigious award honours the memory of Dr Church, a dedicated GP ...

Bʀɪᴛɪsʜ Nᴏʀᴍᴀɴᴅʏ Mᴇᴍᴏʀɪᴀʟ
It gives the Trustees great pride to confirm that the Kent Masonic Museum and Library Trust are sponsoring a tribute plaque at the memorial.
If you visit the museum in Canterbury, you will be able to view the display on the 1st and 2nd World Wars, Kent Masons who were awarded the VC and of course our Armed Forces Covenant banner.

Sponsor a Tribute Plaque at the Memorial - British Normandy Memorial British Normandy Memorial

Vᴏʟᴜɴᴛᴇᴇʀ Oᴘᴘᴏʀᴛᴜɴɪᴛɪᴇs ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ Mᴜsᴇᴜᴍ ﹠ Lɪʙʀᴀʀʏ﹗

Join us in our journey of discovery and enrichment! The Museum & Library is thrilled to announce two new and dynamic volunteer positions, crucial for our continued success:

Assᴏᴄɪᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ Pᴀᴛʀᴏɴs Dᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴍᴇɴᴛ Mᴀɴᴀɢᴇʀ: Are you passionate about fostering relationships and building connections? Join us in nurturing our network of patrons and supporters and play a vital role in advancing our mission.

Lᴏᴅɢᴇ Aᴍʙᴀssᴀᴅᴏʀ Dᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴍᴇɴᴛ Mᴀɴᴀɢᴇʀ: Are you a natural communicator? Become our Lodge Ambassador Development Manager and be the welcoming face of our Museum & Library, engaging with Lodge Ambassadors and ensuring memorable experiences are shared.

These positions offer a unique opportunity to contribute to a vibrant cultural hub. Full training will be provided, and you'll be part of an enthusiastic team dedicated to enriching our communities.

Iɴᴛᴇʀᴇsᴛᴇᴅ﹖ For an informal chat or to learn more about these roles, please contact us at 07773579614.

Pᴇʀᴋs﹕ Enjoy free parking and unlimited tea, coffee, and biscuits while volunteering at the Museum & Library!

Join us and be part of an exciting adventure in cultural exploration and community engagement!

Fᴀᴍɪʟʏ Fᴇsᴛɪᴠᴇ Fᴜɴ ᴅᴀʏ
10ᴀᴍ ᴛᴏ 8ᴘᴍ ᴏɴ Sᴀᴛᴜʀᴅᴀʏ 9 Dᴇᴄᴇᴍʙᴇʀ 2023
COME ALONG TO OUR FAMILY FESTIVE FUN DAY
⇒ Father Christmas ⇒ Balloon Twister
⇒ Face Painter ⇒ Christmas Carols
⇒ Mince Pies ….. and more !!

Vᴏʟᴜɴᴛᴇᴇʀɪɴɢ Wᴏʀᴋsʜᴏᴘ ꜰᴏʀ Pʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ ﹠ Fᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ Sᴛᴇᴡᴀʀᴅs
On Saturday 18/11/2023 from 09:30 to 12:30
HOW TO BOOK:
For workshop on Saturday 18th November
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/kmof/t-gadmmpe

MORE INFORMATION
https://www.kentmuseumoffreemasonry.org.uk/whatson/
We are pleased to announce that the Trustees of the Kent Masonic Museum and Library Trust are running another workshop / seminar for present & future stewards.

- Please note that these workshops are free to attend.
- The workshop will be held in the Canterbury Masonic Hall (next to the Museum & Library).
- The session will run from 9:30am to 12:30pm.
- Afterwards, we will move next door to the Museum & Library, where light refreshments will be available in the boardroom.

Please note: the car park at the centre is very small, and so only brethren who are Disabled Badge Holders and need to drive to the event will be able to park there (space permitting).

Lᴏᴅɢᴇ Aᴍʙᴀssᴀᴅᴏʀs’ / Rᴇᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛᴀᴛɪᴠᴇs’ Wᴏʀᴋsʜᴏᴘs
On 4/11/2023 and 11/11/2023 from 09:30 to 12:30

HOW TO BOOK:
For workshop on Saturday 4th November
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/kmof/kent-museum-of-freemasonry-lodge-ambassadors-workshop/e-oqkebx

For workshop on Saturday 11th November
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/kmof/kent-museum-of-freemasonry-lodge-ambassadors-workshop/e-zmxolr

MORE INFORMATION
https://www.kentmuseumoffreemasonry.org.uk/whatson/

We are pleased to announce that, following a very successful session earlier in the year, the Trustees of the Kent Masonic Museum and Library Trust are running two further Lodge Representatives’/Ambassadors’ Workshops.

- Please note that these workshops are free to attend.
- The two workshops will have the same agenda, and will be held one week apart on Saturday 4th and Saturday 11th November at the Canterbury Masonic Hall (next to the Museum & Library).
- The sessions will run from 9:30am to 12:30pm.
- Afterwards, we will move next door to the Museum & Library, where light refreshments will be available in the boardroom.

Please note: the car park at the centre is very small, and so only brethren who are Disabled Badge Holders and need to drive to the event will be able to park there (space permitting).

Tʜᴇ CORNWALLIS LECTURE - 2024
Do you have a Masonic topic which you would like to submit as an entry to the 2024 Cᴏʀɴᴡᴀʟʟɪs Lᴇᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ?
If you are both a Craft and Royal Arch Mason, and are a member of a Lodge in the Province of West Kent, then you are invited to submit a Lecture for selection as the Cᴏʀɴᴡᴀʟʟɪs Lᴇᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ 2024. You will need to present the Lecture during the year 2024-25.

See https://www.kentmuseumoffreemasonry.org.uk/lectures/ for details.

Lectures - Kent Museum of Freemasonry Talks and lectures Visiting Masonic lecturers We maintain an extensive list of speakers & demonstration teams that are available to visit craft lodges and chapters in the Masonic Provinces of East & West Kent as well as to other Masonic Orders in Kent. We are happy to keep this list up to date as, i...

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
8 - 17 September 2023
The Kent Museum of Freemasony is proud to particpate in the national Heritage Open Days events for 2023, running from the 8th to the 17th September -- ALL EVENTS ARE FREE to attend.
See a list of our events and book yourself in at:

The Kent Masonic Museum and Library Trust is proud to announce its first Macmillan Coffee Morning will be held at the Museum on Friday 29 September 2023 from 10:15am to 1:00pm.

Come along for coffe / tea and cake or something else, your support will help those living with cancer.

All donations raised on the day are will be paid to Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (no. 261017).

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
8 - 17 September 2023
The Kent Museum of Freemasony is proud to particpate in the national Heritage Open Days events for 2023, running from the 8th to the 17th September -- ALL EVENTS ARE FREE to attend.
See a list of our events and book yourself in at:
http://tinyurl.com/HODevents2023 😀

MORE FROM THE PAGEANT on 1st July
Here are some pictures showing members of the public enjoying their visit to the Kent Museum of Freemasonry on Saturday 1st July - many of the younger visitors enjoyed themselves being face painted or colouring in drawings.

Tʜᴇ Mᴜsᴜᴇᴍ ᴡᴀs ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ Tʀᴀɪʟ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ Cᴀɴᴛᴇʀʙᴜʀʏ Pᴀɢᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴏɴ 1 Jᴜʟʏ 2023, ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴠᴏʟᴜɴᴛᴇᴇʀs ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ Mᴜsᴜᴇᴍ ﹠ Lɪʙʀᴀʀʏ ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴀᴅᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ Cɪᴛʏ. Aꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴀᴅᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ Lᴏʀᴅ Mᴀʏᴏʀ ᴀɴᴅ Lᴀᴅʏ Mᴀʏᴏʀᴇss ᴛᴏᴜʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ Mᴜsᴇᴜᴍ ᴀɴᴅ Lɪʙʀᴀʀʏ.
At 11:00am on Saturday 1 July, Freemasons from the volunteers who help run the Kent Museum of Freemasonry took part in the annual Canterbury Pageant parade through the City of Canterbury.
Afterwards, Cllr Jean Butcher, the Lord Mayor of Canterbury visited the Kent Museum of Freemasonry, accompanied by Di Baldock, the Lady Mayoress.
The Lord Mayor was received by:-
- Richard Wingett, the Chairman of the Trustees,
- Philip South the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of East Kent, and
- Jacqueline Langdon-Bassett the Grand Inspector of East Kent in the Order of Women Freemasons.
We would like to thank the Lᴏʀᴅ Mᴀʏᴏʀ ᴏꜰ Cᴀɴᴛᴇʀʙᴜʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ Lᴀᴅʏ Mᴀʏᴏʀᴇss for accepting our invitation.
________________________________________________________________________________
Below - The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Canterbury, with Philip South (Deputy Grand Master of East Kent, UGLE) and Jacqueline Langdon-Bassett (Grand Inspector for East Kent, OWF), being shown exhibits by Richard White (Trustee, and Secretary of the Trust).

Today - Saturday 1st July - we are proud to be part of the Canterbury Pageant 2023.
Visit us on the trail!
Children welcome !
Face painting and colouring in.
We also extend a warm welcome to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress who will be visiting us today.

Pʀᴇsᴇɴᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ʀᴇɢᴀʟɪᴀ ᴏꜰ RW Bʀᴏ. Rᴀʏᴍᴏɴᴅ Hᴏʀɴ

On 25 March, W. Bro. Ian Dent, the Worshipful Master of Honor Oak Lodge No. 1986, together with Mrs. Ellen Horn, some brethren of the lodge and their ladies visited the Kent Museum of Freemasonry – bringing with them the beautifully framed set of regalia of the late RW Bro. Raymond Horn.
There, Richard White, a Trustee and the Secretary of the Kent Masonic Museum and Library Trust, was pleased to receive the regalia from Mrs. Horn. The regalia will be on permanent loan to the Museum for the lifetimes of Mrs. Horn and her daughter.

Richard thanked Mrs. Horn on behalf of all the Trustees for entrusting the Museum with the regalia of her late husband. He also thanked the Worshipful Master and brethren of Honor Oak Lodge for wishing to see the regalia offered to the Museum, and for all the hard work in making the day a great success.

RW Bro. Ray Horn had been a Past Assistant Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Spain. This is the highest office ever achieved by an English Freemason in the Spanish Constitution.

He was initiated into Grove Park Kent Lodge No. 2824 in 1968, becoming Worshipful Master in 1974. He was exalted into Priory Chapter No. 5819 in 1978. Later in 1991 he was awarded Senior London Grand Rank in the Craft.

It is in Spain, however, that his masonic career took off after he retired there in 1993. In 1989 he was a founder of Javea Lodge No. 40, warranted by the Grand Lodge of Spain, becoming Worshipful Master in 2005. He later joined Puerto De Xabia Lodge No. 58 and was appointed Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. In 2001 he was made a Provincial Assistant Grand Master, and in 2008 he was promoted to Past Assistant Grand Master. RW Bro. Ray was also heavily involved in other masonic orders in Spain, including the Mark Master Masons, the Royal Ark Mariners, the Knights Templar, the Order of the Secret Monitor and the Allied Masonic Degrees.

Vɪsɪᴛ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ Lᴏʀᴅ Mᴀʏᴏʀ ᴏꜰ Cᴀɴᴛᴇʀʙᴜʀʏ ᴏɴ 27 Mᴀʀᴄʜ 2023

This year the Kent Masonic Museum and Library Trust, more commonly known as the Kent Museum of Freemasonry, is celebrating its 90th anniversary. It was opened on 19th April 1933 by the then Provincial Grand Master for Kent, RW Bro. the Rt Hon. the Lord Cornwallis. While the Province of Kent was subsequently split into East Kent and West Kent, the Musuem and Library remains as such for the whole of Kent.

In recognition of its 90th birthday the Trustees invited the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Anne Dekker, and her Consort, her husband Mr. Ken Dekker, to visit the Museum and Library. Many thanks must go here to Peter Hazlewood, one of our Trustees, who was instrumental in organising the visit.

The Lord Mayor was pleased to accept our invitation, and toured the Museum and Library on Monday 27th March, accompanied by her Consort. She was received by W. Bro. Richard Wingett, Chairman of the Trustees, who introduced her to Neil Hamilton, Provincial Grand Master for East Kent, and Ian Gallehawk, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of West Kent.

After her initial welcome, she was taken on a tour of first the museum and then the library by Marcus Sherwood-Jenkins.
In the museum, the Lord Mayor was shown in particular our collection of historic books: a 1723 Anderson Book of Constitutions, a 1588 Geneva Bible and a 1613 King James Bible.
In the Library, the Lord Mayor was shown several ancient books of interest, and also shown our oldest exhibit: an ancient Egyptian Maul believed to be up to 4,000 years old.
(The authenticity of the maul has been verified by the British Museum).

At the conclusion of the tour, on behalf of the Museum and of both Provinces, the RW Provincial Grand Master presented the Lord Mayor with a donation to the Lord Mayor’s Charity and a small masonic trowel as a memento of the visit. The Lord Mayor spoke, thanking all for a very interesting tour of the Museum and Library, and remarking up on the connection Kent Freemasonry has had with the local community.

Afterwards the Lord Mayor and her Consort were shown around the main Lodge Room in the adjacent Canterbury Masonic Hall, where she was invited to sit in the Master's Chair. She was joined by her Consort, and both the Provincial Grand Master and Deputy Provincial Grand Master.
The visit was concluded with a small buffet in the centre with a good amount of convivial conversation, before the Lord Mayor’s party departed.

ᴛʜᴇ Lᴏʀᴅ Mᴀʏᴏʀ ᴏꜰ Cᴀɴᴛᴇʀʙᴜʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ Cᴏɴsᴏʀᴛ ᴠɪsɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ Kᴇɴᴛ Mᴜsᴇᴜᴍ ᴏꜰ Fʀᴇᴇᴍᴀsᴏɴʀʏ ᴏɴ Mᴏɴᴅᴀʏ 27 Mᴀʀᴄʜ.
At 11:00am on Monday 27 March, Cllr Anne Dekker, the Lord Mayor of Canterbury visited the Kent Museum of Freemasonry as part of the Museum and Library's 90th anniversary celebration.
The Lord Mayor was received by:-
- Richard Wingett the Chairman of the Trustees,
- Neil Johnstone the Provincial Grand Master for East Kent, and
- Ian Gallehawk the Deputy Provincial Grand Master for West Kent.
We would like to thank the Lᴏʀᴅ Mᴀʏᴏʀ ᴏꜰ Cᴀɴᴛᴇʀʙᴜʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ Cᴏɴsᴏʀᴛ for accepting our invitation.

Want to help SUPPORT the Kent Museum of Freemasonry ?

Then why not become a Patron ?
Donate £25/year - or more if you wish - and become a Patron.
Standing order form: https://tinyurl.com/KMMLT-AOP-FORM

Anyone may become a Patron - if you have an interest in Kent history (not necessarily masonic history), or want to help us preserve our collection of around 10,000 books going back to 1588 editions (!) - then please consider becoming a Patron.

Lodges may become Patrons for only £75/year, and other groups for only £50/year.

𝐂ᴀʟʟɪɴɢ 𝐋ᴏᴅɢᴇ 𝐀ᴍʙᴀ𝐬𝐬ᴀᴅᴏʀ𝐬 ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝐋ᴏᴅɢᴇ𝐬 ɪɴ 𝐄ᴀ𝐬ᴛ 𝐊ᴇɴᴛ
As the Ambassador from your lodge to the Kent Masonic Museum and Library Trust, you are cordially invited to attend the
𝐀ɴɴᴜᴀʟ 𝐆ᴇɴᴇʀᴀʟ 𝐌ᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ
Of the Kent Masonic Museum and Library Trust.

Our AGM for 2022 has now been rescheduled for 11:00 am on Saturday 10th December 2022 – coffee & tea will be served from 10:30 am.
It will be held in the main Temple / Lodge Room at Canterbury Masonic Hall.

𝙃𝙊𝙒 𝙏𝙊 𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙆 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙂𝙈
Yᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇɢɪsᴛᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ/ᴘʀᴏxʏ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ AGM – ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴅᴏ sᴏ ᴠɪᴀ ᴛʜɪs ʟɪɴᴋ﹕ https://tinyurl.com/KMOF-2022-AGM.

--- There will be a luncheon to follow, starting at 12:00 noon to be held upstairs in the dining / bar area.
--- Our guest speaker for the lunch will be W. Bro. Malcolm Brooks, who will talk about his time as Grand Tyler.

𝙃𝙊𝙒 𝙏𝙊 𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙆 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 & 𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙇𝙐𝙉𝘾𝙃 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙂𝙈
Tᴏ ʀᴇɢɪsᴛᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟꜰ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɢᴜᴇsᴛs ꜰᴏʀ ʟᴜɴᴄʜ – ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴜsᴇ ᴛʜɪs ʟɪɴᴋ﹕ https://tinyurl.com/KMOF-2022-Lunch-after-AGM.
Up to 6 persons may be booked in for Lunch in a single registration.

Please do bring along your ladies, and other lodge members & friend who may be interested in the museum and library.
They will be welcome at both the AGM and the lunch afterwards – though only Lodge Ambassadors will be entitled to speak and vote at the AGM.

The menu will be:-
Pate
Beef Bourguignon with Parsley Potatoes & 2 Seasonal Vegetables
Fresh Fruit Salad
Mince Pies
Coffee & Mints

A vegetarian option will be available – and can be requested when registering for the Lunch.

Kent Museum of Freemasonry - AGM - Lunch booking form For anyone wishing to book a seat at the Lunch following the AGM of the Trust on 10th December 2022.

Why not visit the Kent Museum of Freemasonry (https://kentmuseumoffreemasonry.org.uk/) ?