Welcome to the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), the home of Freemasonry in England, Wales, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and a number of Districts overseas.

One of the oldest secular social and charitable organisations in the world, modern Freemasonry’s roots lie in the traditions of the medieval stonemasons who built our castles and cathedrals.

For Freemasons, there are four important values that help define their path through life: Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Charity. In today’s world filled with uncertainty, these principles ring as true now as they have at any point in the organisation’s history.

Membership is open to men over 18 from all backgrounds and the organisation’s aim is to empower members to be the best they can be – it’s about building character, supporting members as individuals and helping them make a positive contribution to society.

Freemasonry provides a structure for members to come together under these common goals, enabling people to make new friendships, develop themselves and make valuable contributions to charitable causes. We are one of the largest charitable givers in the country, contributing £51.1m to deserving causes in 2020.

Freemasonry is one of the oldest social and charitable organisations in the world. Its roots lie in the traditions of the medieval stonemasons who built our cathedrals and castles.

We know that Freemasons have been operating in West Lancashire since as long ago as the 1640’s when the earliest account of admittance into Freemasonry recorded an initiation into a lodge in Warrington. It is an intriguing thought that whilst Roundheads and Cavaliers were engaged in the bitter English Civil War, Freemasons were meeting in peace and harmony in this very Province.

West Lancashire now has around 8,000 members and its lodges serve an area from Liverpool and the Manchester suburbs in the south to Barrow and the Lake District in the north. There are over 330 active lodges that meet at 50 locations, predominantly Freemasons’ halls, but including hotels, pubs, schools, golf and private clubs, a village hall and a synagogue.

Our members come from all walks of life and enjoy the company of like-minded individuals, enjoying meetings and social activities, being active in our local communities, practising concern for people, care for the less fortunate, and helping those in need.

In England and Wales there is an indissoluble link between Craft Freemasonry and the Royal Arch, with the Royal Arch being considered the completion of a Freemason’s journey in "Pure Antient Masonry".

The Royal Arch has four ceremonies: the exaltation ceremony to admit new members and an installation ceremony for each of the three Principals. The exaltation ceremony is in two parts: a rather dramatic presentation of the principles of the Order followed by three Lectures in which the history, symbolism and principles of the Royal Arch are further explained. Like Craft Freemasonry, the Royal Arch is open to men of all faiths.

Its members, called Companions, meet in Chapters under a Grand Chapter. Chapters are presided over conjointly by three Principals, and the Grand Chapter by three Grand Principals, with a Pro First Grand Principal when the First Grand Principal is a Royal Prince. Chapters are organised as a Metropolitan area or Provinces (based on the old Counties), each with a local Grand Superintendent in charge.

The Order of Women Freemasons is the oldest and largest Masonic organisation for women in this country and works on the lines of regular male Freemasonry.

Women of any race or faith can join our Order and must be 21 years or older, be of good character and believe in a Supreme Being. Being formed in 1908 we have some 4,000 members grouped into over 300 Craft Lodges operating in the UK and overseas. Lodges meet a minimum of four times a year.

The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) have, in a statement issued in 1999, acknowledged the regularity and sincerity of women’s Freemasonry, although they do not officially recognise it and their members cannot take part. Many of our own lodges meet in temples owned by the men’s Order and informal relations are cordial and co-operative. Similarly, there is a reciprocal agreement extended to members of UGLE holding their meetings on our premises.

The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons (HFAF) which is now known as Freemasonry for Women is a fraternity for women and organised by women. It was founded in 1913 and membership is open to women of any race or religion, who are able to profess a belief in a Supreme Being. Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest secular fraternal societies. Freemasonry has evolved over the centuries as a system of moral guidance, characterised by allegory and symbolism. It is compatible with all religions enabling men and women of different faiths and backgrounds to follow a common purpose of living a moral life for the good of themselves and others. In the UK there are single sex fraternities such as ours and mixed Fraternities. Our precepts are taught by a series of ceremonies.

Our Order has many lodges in the UK including the Isle of Man, and as far as Carlisle in the north and south to Bournemouth and westwards to the Cotswolds. We have six overseas Lodges: one in Gibraltar, two in Spain, one in Eastern Europe in Bucharest, Romania, one in New Delhi in India, and the latest overseas addition to our HFAF family, America Lodge No. 57 consecrated in Washington, DC on 25th May 2019. Such is the interest in Women’s Freemasonry in India that we have been asked to consecrate three further lodges, which we were hoping to do in January 2021 and which will now be doing at a later date.

We are participating in the University Scheme . We have opened a new University Lodge in Letchworth and are working to open new University Lodges in Uxbridge, West London and Newcastle-under-Lyme and also to re-open Centrum Lodge No. 46 in Coventry. Surrey Lodge No. 45 is already working as a University Lodge. We are working in conjunction with United Grand Lodge of England, (masculine Freemasonry) to promote Freemasonry in our Universities.

Funded entirely through the generosity of Freemasons and their families, the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) is one of the largest grant-making charities in the country.

We build better lives by enabling opportunity, advancing healthcare and education and promoting independence.

Our Vision for Society

Everyone has the opportunity to lead positive, active and fulfilling lives, especially those that are in need, disadvantaged or marginalised

Our Vision for the Masonic Community

Masonic families are healthy, stable and secure thereby providing them with the opportunities to participate actively in their community and succeed in life.

Our mission

To be a force for good by providing support, care and services to Freemasons and their families in need, and supporting other charities to help the most disadvantaged in society.