Welcome to the official website of The Grand Lodge of All England at York, the Ancient and Honourable Society and Fraternity of Freemasons meeting since time immemorial in the City of York.  The Grand Lodge at York is the original exponent of genuine Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry and retains its jurisdiction over Craft Freemasonry in England, Wales, the Channel Islands, and its Territories and Lodges Overseas.

The Grand Lodge at York confers the following degrees and orders: Apprentice Freemason; Fellow of the Craft; Mark Mason; Passed Master; Installed Master; Ark Mason; Holy Order of Grand High Priest.

Warranted Lodges in England:  The Talbot Lodge at Halifax (1738); French Lodge at York (1762); Three Tuns Lodge at Scarborough (1762); Royal Oak Lodge at Ripon (1769); Crown Lodge at Knaresborough (1769); Duke of Devonshire's Flying Childers Lodge at Macclesfield (1770); Hovingham Lodge at North Yorkshire (1773); New Inn Lodge at Snainton (1778); Druidical Lodge at Rotherham (1778); Lodge of Perseverance and Triumph at London (1779); Lodge of Perfect Observance at London (1779); Fortitude at the Sun Lodge at Hollinwood (1790); St John's Lodge at York (2006); Renaissance Lodge at London (2007); Kipling Lodge at Staines (2007).

Territories and Lodges Overseas:  United States of America: St John's Lodge at Ohio (2007); St John's Lodge at Texas (2008).

Grand Lodges in Amity:  La Grande Loge de France (GLdF).

King Athelstan

Organised Freemasonry in England was first established at York by Royal warrant and under the jurisdiction of the Grand Assembly of Masons.  In the year A.D. 926 the Masons of England were called together in assembly by King Athelstan.  He granted them a Royal Charter which warranted them to assemble in the City of York under the authority of a Grand Master and he appointed his brother Prince Edwin of York.  The City of York remains the location of the chair of the Grand Master as required by the Royal Charter and granted in perpetuity.

"Struck his enemies with fear, by terror of his name alone. A royal son prolonged a noble line, when a splendid gem lit up our darkness. Great Athelstan, glory of the country, way of rectitude, noble integrity, unswervable from the truth."  (King Athelstan c.895-939)

"The original Charter at York was kept in the archives of the Old Lodge at York City and destroyed in the War of the Roses. Copies were made from memory and preserved in the British Museum with many other old Masonic Manuscripts."

King Henry VI

"In 1442 King Henry VI developed several questions for Masons regarding the mysteries of their reception and the object of their studies.  Satisfied with their answers, he was admitted to the Fraternity, protected it, constituted old charters concerning its privileges, and approved them, in the opinion of his council.  He applied to the study of art and all the lords of the court followed his example.   He appointed, in 1443, as Grand Master William Wanafleet, bishop of Winchester: who built at his expense the college of Magdalene, in Oxford, and a great number of religious buildings."

Sir Thomas Sackville

In the year A.D. 1561, assurances were given to Queen Elizabeth I by Sir Thomas Sackville, Privy Councillor and Grand Master of The Grand Lodge at York (1560-1566).  She confirmed rights previously granted to The Grand Lodge and gave her permission for it to continue in Grand Assembly at York.

Queen Elizabeth I

"The fraternity continued to flourish in the next reigns; and in the reign of Elizabeth, about 1550, Sir Thos. Sackville, then Grand Master, assembled the general lodge at York, which is said to have roused the jealousy of the queen; and she intended to break up the meeting, but being informed that they did not meddle with politics, she withdrew her orders, and permitted them to meet unmolested."

"The following circumstance is recorded of Elizabeth: Hearing that the masons were in possession of secrets which they would not reveal, and being jealous of all secret assemblies, she sent an armed force to York, with intent to break up their annual grand lodge.  This design, however, was happily frustrated by the interposition of Sir Thomas Sackville; who took care to initiate some of the chief officers which she had sent on this duty.  They joined in communication with the masons, and made so favourable a report to the queen on their return, that she countermanded her orders, and never afterwards attempted to disturb the meetings of the fraternity."

"The Queen being assured that the Fraternity were composed of skilful architects, and lovers of the Arts, and that state affairs were points in which they never interfered was perfectly reconciled to their assemblies, and Masonry made a great progress at this period.  During her reign, Lodges were held in different places of the Kingdom, particularly in London and its environs, where the brethren increased considerably, and several great works were carried on under the auspices of Sir Thomas Gresham, from whom the Fraternity received every encouragement."

Sir Thomas Gresham

The Old Grand Lodge at York, the Ancient and Honourable Society and Fraternity of Freemasons meeting since time immemorial in the City of York was renamed The Grand Lodge of All England at York in A.D. 1725.  It has retained this title ever since.

"If he wishes to partake of Masonry in its Original Purity, he will turn his attention to that source, where it hath been Inviolably maintained and continued for Successive Ages to this Day, and where the Legislature of Masonry for this Kingdom stands fixed by its true Title 'The Grand Lodge of All England, Established at the City of York.' " - YORK 1779

 SOURCES: The Ashmole Manuscript written for King Henry VI by John Laylande (c.1436);  Dowland's Transcript (c.1500); Landsdowne or Regius MS (c.1560);  York MS No.1 (1600);  Grand Lodge MS (c.1632);  Harleian MS (1625);  Sloane MS 3848 (cert.1646);  Sloane MS 3323 (cert.1659);  Harleian MS 1942 (c.1660);  Aitcheson-Haven MS (c.1666);  Edinburgh-Kilwinning MS (c.1670);  York MS No.5 (c.1670);  York MS No.6 (c.1680);  Lodge of Antiquity MS (cert.1686);  The Scarborough MS (1693);  York MS No.2 (cert.1693);  Alnwick MS (cert.1701);  York MS No.4 (cert.1704);  Mr Wyatt Papworth's MS (c.1714);  Dr Rev. Rawlinson's MS (c.1720);  Ahiman Rezon, 3rd Edition published by Laurence Dermott, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons According to the Old Institutions, (1756); Illustrations of Masonry by Dr William Preston, (1772);  Acta Latomorum ou Chronologie de l'Histoire de la Franche-Maçonnerie française et étrangére by Claude Antoine Thory (1784);  The Manifesto of The Lodge of Antiquity, formerly the Old Lodge of St Paul (1778);  The  Freemasons' Pocket Companion, Apollo Lodge  Oxford , jurisdiction of the United Grand Lodge of England; independently reported by The Mirror of  Literature, Amusement and Instruction, Vol. 17, Issue 491 (May 28, 1831);  The Old Lodge at York by R.W. Bro. O. P. Thomas, Grand Lodge Bulletin (1969); records of the Chapter of York Minster, dates various. 

" ... but one family of Masons."

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News and Announcements:  Inauguration of St John's Lodge at Texas; A Statement by The Grand Lodge of All England at York regarding the life and death of its first Grand Master; The Grand-Master Mason's response to the speech by the Pro Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England; Grand-Master Mason awarded the Order of Service to Freemasonry; Appointment of Grand Chancellor; Inauguration of St John's Lodge at Ohio; Treaty of Amity with the Confederation of United Grand Lodges of India.

Statement at York 1779:  A new webpage.

Antiquities:  A new webpage containing certain references to old manuscripts.  This page is for the serious Masonic student.  Full details on application to the Grand Secretary.

Regularity:  A public statement by The Grand Lodge of All England at York; Regularity; the question of Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction; the  doctrine of Recognition; The Commission on Information for Recognition.

Mackey's Masonic Law:  Key extracts from Dr Albert Gallatin Mackey's  "The Principles of Masonic Law".

Articles and Papers:  "Anderson's Constitutions of 1723" by Lionel Vibert.

Addresses from the East:  Grand Master Mason's address to the Brethren, 15th December 2007 ;  Grand-Master Mason's address to the Brethren of St John's Lodge at Ohio.

York Grand Masters:  Names and biographies of 82 (eighty-two) Grand Masters of The Grand Lodge at York from Prince Edwin of York (AD 926) to Edward Wooley Esquire (AD 1810).

Your Questions Answered:  "What is different about the Grand Lodge of All England", "Do I have to believe in God or Religion?".
 

This website remains the exclusive copyright of The Grand Lodge of All England at York, all rights reserved.  The Grand Lodge at York wishes to express its gratitude for the use of images employed on this website.  Grand Lodge also acknowledges the assistance received from; The National Portrait Gallery; The Archives of the Palace of Westminster; Lambeth Palace Library; The British Library; North Yorkshire County Record Office; The Archives of the City of York Council; York City Archives; York City Archives Art Gallery Building; York Mansion House; The York Company; Mr Peter Young, Archivist of The York Minster Library; Mr Paul Finn of The Lodge, Tong Hall; The Estate of Lord Mountgarret; Mr. Alan S. MacDonald M.A., Historian of Pool-in-Wharfedale; The Proprietors of the Charles Bathurst Inn, Arkengarthdale.

© 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008