On 18 November 2013 members and guests of the Chapter of Fidelity, celebrated its Golden Jubilee and the 50th anniversary, almost to the day, of the exaltation into Royal Arch Masonry, of E Comp Gordon Gentry.  It was appropriate for the Festive Board to be adjourned to its original venue, the Saracens Head Hotel, and, coincidentally, it was attended by exactly fifty diners.

The Chapter was consecrated on 19 February 1963, at the Masonic Hall, Towcester by the then Grand Superintendent, E Comp HG Lewis.  Of the thirty-three founders, E Comp Alan Stewart, now living on the Isle of Man, is the only surviving member.  He was particularly sorry that he could not attend the Golden Jubilee Convocation.

In November 1963, a brother from Westministerian Lodge No 3344 and a Schoolmaster working at St John’s School, Tiffield, E Comp Gordon Gentry, was exalted into this Chapter in a double ceremony with a Bro John Lockart of Bugbrooke.  It was rather special that E Comp Gordon Gentry received his 50th Anniversary Certificate from our Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams on the occasion of the Chapter’s Golden Jubilee Convocation.

As PGM of the Royal Order of Scotland in the Province of Bedfordshire & Northamptonshire, E Comp Gordon Gentry has committed many years of dedicated work to Freemasonry, though he has also moved in other grand circles in our capital. He became Master of the Guild of Freemen of the City of London in 2007 and was responsible for investing none other than HRH, The Princess Royal as his successor. Married to Anne, E Comp Gordon he has three children and four grandchildren.

Lodges that helped launch the Chapter of Fidelity were not necessarily based in Towcester.  At that time there was only one Towcester Craft Lodge, our namesake (the Lodge of Fidelity) but Brackley and Daventry had a major part to play.  Waynflete Lodge contributed twenty-eight members and now have a Holy Royal Arch Chapter of their own.  Similarly, Beneventa Lodge provided twenty-two exaltees and Coritani Lodge five of which the two remain in our membership, E Comp Rick Bott and E Comp Norman Scrimshaw, who were both present at this Golden Jubilee Convocation.

The evening was constructed around a number of brief addresses by Companions of the Chapter. Contributors were E Comps Andrew Graham, Steve Brame, Graham Minett, Norman Scrimshaw, Rick Bott, Arnold Francklow and Gordon Gentry (after he had been presented with his Jubilee Certificate by the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams).

Addresses became an eloquent flow of stories of frustration and boredom with previous versions of ritual, then delight with revisions and unusual events such as a certain Companion being allowed to join the Chapter on one occasion and then, in the next meeting, to be installed into all three Chairs. Who was this? Well, he is none other than our own Past Pro Grand Master and Past First Grand Principal, The Marquis of Northampton, who remains a subscribing member of the Chapter.

E Comp Dennis Stewart of the Chapter of St Giles has a bonfire party each year in the grounds of his home near Corby and donates the proceeds to charity.

This year he was ably assisted by E Comps Dave Genner and Billy Glover and his bonfire party raised £1,167.50.  He has added to this Holy Royal Arch Province’s donation is support of Supreme Grand Chapter’s Centenary Appeal in aid of the Royal College of Surgeons.

On the 19 December 2013 at the Corbie Masonic Complex the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams and the Provincial Grand Charity Steward, Ex Comp Mike Green, were presented with the £1,167.50 cheque.

The Most Excellent Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams said

This takes our Provincial total up to £64,000.  I’m most grateful to Dennis Stewart and the Companions of the Chapter of St Giles for taking what was already a wonderful total to even greater heights.

The Companions of Northampton Chapter recently celebrated 160 years since its consecration, on 18 November 1853. The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams, pictured with the three Principals, was in attendance in his capacity as a member of the Chapter, at an evening where lectures were presented to all those present, including the last two Companions to be exalted earlier this year.

The Companions later retired for a most convivial Festive Board at which the toast to the Chapter was given with a glass of Port.

Any Master Mason interested in joining the Holy Royal Arch's Northampton Chapter or any other Chapter should either contact his Lodge Secretary or the Provincial Chapter Office.

On 16 October 2013, the Holy Royal Arch celebrated its bicentenary at Supreme Grand Chapter, Great Queen Street in London.  

In the evening, a grand reception and banquet was held at the Savoy Hotel.  This was attended by several Companions from this Province including the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, EComp  Wayne Williams, the Deputy Grand Superintendent, EComp David Jackson and Excellent Companion Esmond Edwards of St Ivo Chapter.