“East Lancashire Centurion Lodge was founded on 23rd July 1889 by members of the 5th (V) Battalion of the Manchester Regiment who decided there should be a lodge for Commissioned Officers of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces in the city. The Lodge was consecrated on 15th November 1889 at the Headquarters of the Battalion in Ardwick Green.

The founding Master of the Lodge was the Commanding Officer of the Battalion, Colonel LeGendre Nicholas Starkie, who was also the Provincial Grand Master at that time. The lodge has had and still has many past and serving senior Masonic members including Provincial Grand Master.

Potential candidates and other Masons may be surprised to learn that the name of the Lodge has no military connection despite it being a Lodge for Commissioned Officers. The name derives from the fact that the Lodge was the one hundredth lodge in the Province of East Lancashire to be registered with the United Grand Lodge of England.

Members must hold or have held a Commission in His/Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. The Lodge has a military mess feel to it, but non-military visitors are very welcome and encouraged. Dress ‘regulations’ require members to wear dinner jacket with miniature medals (as an alternative to mess dress or patrol blues) for the meeting and social board.

The aim of the Lodge is comradeship through shared service in the Armed Forces of the Crown and to support charities, especially Broughton House, the Armed Forces Veterans Home, in Salford.”

The type of candidate the lodge would ideally seek is a Commissioned or former Commissioned officer from any of the three services and able to fit into the “Mess” within the lodge. Officers from the Royal Navy would be especially welcome.