Area 3

Area 3 forms the northern boundary of the Province. It is situated in an ‘area of outstanding natural beauty’ and includes the World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey.

The Area Assistant Provincial Grand Master is Martin W. Stray who lives at Harrogate.

The Royal Arch in Area 3 has at its head, Paul Clarke, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals, who lives at Collingham.

31 Lodges comprise the Area, numbering in excess of 1200 Freemasons and occupying 13 Masonic Halls, situated at the following locations:-

Barnoldswick (2), Bentham (1), Guiseley (1), Harrogate (6), Ilkley (3), Knaresborough (2), Otley (6), Pateley Bridge (1), Ripon (2), Settle (2), Skipton (2), Waddington (1) and Wetherby (2).

Of these Lodges, six are in excess of 100 years old, three in excess of 150 years old and one in excess of 200 years old.  The oldest being Alfred Lodge No 306, meeting at Otley, which was founded in 1795.  The youngest being Linton Lodge No 9444, meeting at Harrogate, which was founded in 1991. These Lodges are faithfully served by a team of 21 Liaison Officers.

In addition, 9 Royal Arch Chapters are attached to Lodges meeting at:-

Harrogate (2), Ilkley (1), Otley (2), Ripon (1), Skipton (1), Waddington (1), and Wetherby (1).

Of these Chapters, four are in excess of 100 years old and two in excess of 75 years old. The oldest being Marquess of Ripon Chapter No 837, founded in 1874.

The youngest being Royal Forest Chapter No 401, founded in 1991. Likewise, faithfully served by a team of 9 Liaison Officers.

Support is provided for these Lodges and Chapters within Area 3, in the form of a team of Provincial Charity Assistants who’s Chairman is Alan Reece (7609). Two Provincial Almoner’s Assistants, namely, Charles King (7452) and Norman Forsyth (6848). The Provincial Communications Committee is represented by David Simister (4404), Gordon Pearson (7452) and Roger Newhouse (810).

The vital service provided by the Mentoring Co-ordinator for the area, Peter Gibbs (306), is presently under review, due in no small measure, to the vast acreage involved.

Within our boundaries there works a peripatetic Lodge of Installed Masters (8087) and two Installed Masters’ Associations, namely, Airedale & Wharfedale and Keighley & Craven. Lodges which have a special interest or bond are the school Lodge Old Giggleswickian (8263) meeting at Settle and  the Round Tabler’s  Lodge, Lodge of King Arthur (9311) meeting at Ilkley.

News from Area 3