Ravenscroft Chapter was concreted in 1949 and we will be celebrating our 75th anniversary in a few short years. Over the years, our membership sadly dwindled and at one meeting only five people turned up. We managed to attract some joining members but not enough to keep us going. We had all but handed in our Warrant.
During the end of 2019 and the first lockdown, we began to discuss how closely associating Ravenscroft Chapter with Salisbury Union Craft Lodge. Salisbury Union comprises a mixed membership of Initiates and Joiners with a very active Lodge of Instruction, Masonic Education events and social aspects with many of its members exploring Orders beyond the Craft and sharing their experiences with each other. Salisbury Union has developed a mentoring programme to enable and encourage its members to join Orders whilst being supported in their Craft Masonry.
When launching the concept to members of the Lodge and Chapter, we were met with enthusiasm and an encouragement to pursue the project further having both been committee members of the Fleet House Light Blues Club (FHLBC) we offered to help fill their events calendar by taking advantage of the popularity of virtual meetings and with the assistance of the FHLBC, we held a ‘’Meet the Rose Croix’’ meeting which we had over 30 in attendance. From this meeting alone we received four Perfection forms and five joining member forms. In October 2021 we held a Fish’n’Chip supper allowing current members of Ravenscroft Chapter, joining members and those interested in the Order to meet up – in person this time. This meeting we attracted another three candidates and they completed their forms on the night.
Associating ourselves with Salisbury Union meant making changes to our meeting dates and times which has now been adopted in order to take advantage of their pre-paid venues. We meet immediately before the Salisbury Union craft lodge and will be dining with them allowing us to keep dining and meeting costs low. We also have significantly lower annual subscriptions enabling everyone, especially students, to appreciate this Order without a huge additional cost.
The Inspector General has been an advocate of innovation in all aspects of the project as long as all rules and regulations of the Supreme Council and the District are adhered to and has given us access to the District Recorder to ensure we maintain the standards of the Order.
At our first meeting following the UK lockdown, we welcomed eight joining members including the Hertfordshire Provincial Grand Master, The Past Provincial Grand Master (who was appointed ADC) and the Assistant Provincial Grand Master (who was appointed organist).