Bishop Edward Story Lodge No. 8256
About Bishop Edward Story Lodge No. 8256
In short, we are a very traditional Masonic Lodge and if you are looking for that traditional experience then Bishop Edward Story may well be the Lodge for you. We are one of the few Lodges to meet in Dinner Jackets and always enjoy a meal following our meetings.
Bishop Edward Story Lodge was Consecrated on 29th January 1969 with the Consecration Ceremony taking place at the Sussex Masonic Centre in Brighton. The Lodge meets at The Chichester Masonic Hall, South Pallant, Chichester. We meet on the second Wednesday of February, April, July, September, October and December. Lodge of Instructions (practice sessions) are held on the first and third Wednesday of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November and December.
Through our charitable works we support the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) and also local Charites. We have recently adopted two in particular; St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Chichester and The Sussex Snowdrop Trust.
Members of the Lodge are drawn from an eclectic mix of business and professional backgrounds (some active, some retired) including; Funeral Directors, the Construction industry, Academia, Legal, Shipping, Consultancy etc. We have a wide age range of membership from 30 to 90 years young.
What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is one of the world’s largest and oldest non-religious and non-political fraternal and charitable organisations. It is open to people from all walks of life, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation or socio-economic position in society.
Our core values are:
Integrity: Rather than working on buildings like the masons of old, today’s Freemasons focus on building themselves as people of integrity, and membership provides the structure to help achieve that goal.
Friendship: One of the oldest social organisations in the world, Freemasonry is not defined by an ideology. It is open to people from all religions and political persuasions and provides the common foundation for friendships between members, many of which will last for life.
Respect: With a membership of more than 150,000 people drawn from communities across the UK, Freemasonry brings people together irrespective of their race, religion or any other perceived differences that can divide us as a society.
Service: Whether participating in events, fundraising for a charitable cause or volunteering for public or community organisations, service is at the very heart of Freemasonry. Our members make valuable contributions by donating time, resources and skills.
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Who was Bishop Edward Story?
Edward Story was born a Yorkshireman in 1420. In 1444 he was elected fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge and later in 1450 was appointed Master of Trinity College (Michaelhouse). He became Bishop of Carlisle in 1468 before moving to Chichester on 11th February 1478 where he remained Bishop until his death on 16th March 1503.
His final resting place lies within Chichester Cathedral.
He is probably best known as the man who commissioned the Chichester Market Cross in 1501. A fifty foot construction of Caen stone its original purpose was to provide shelter to the poor whilst selling their produce. It has been extensively modified and renovated over the years with major alterations made in 1746 by the second Duke of Richmond (Charles Lennox) including the addition of a clock. Amongst his other works Bishop Edward Story founded the Prebendel School in 1497.
Bishop Edward Story’s Legacy
The Chichester Market Cross and The Prebendal School.
What do Lodges Do?
A Lodge is far more than just a dinner club, it is a world of new friends, evenings out, visits to other Lodges and Social Events for the whole family.
Visits and Social Events
At Bishop Edward Story Lodge we have an active visits and social events programme which includes visiting other Lodges both at home in the UK and overseas. Our social events have included meals out with our ‘BES World Cuisine Club’ and ’Ride Outs’ for the motorcycle enthusiasts within the Lodge etc…
BES Biker's Breakfast Rideout!
BES "World Cuisine Club" - Chinese Night
"Thai Night" with those Hawaiian shirts!
"Indian Night" Cheers!
"Our Bikers do like their breakfasts!
Visit to Freemasons Hall in Covent Garden
Trip to Dusseldorf to visit Niederrhein Lodge
Launching a five-year fundraising campaign
Sussex Freemasons charity Track Day at Goodwood
Trip to Rosslyn Chapel to find those Da Vinci Code secrets!
Charity
Charity plays a hugely important part in Freemasonry and we regularly hold events to raise funds for a range of charities
Cheque presentations to St Wilfrid’s Hospice.
Why join Bishop Edward Story Lodge?
If you’ve ever been curious about Freemasonry and want to know more, then why not get in touch and we can share information about our wonderful Lodge. We are a dynamic forward-thinking Lodge with an increasing membership and ever-expanding programme of visits and social events. At the same time, we are very mindful of the traditions of Freemasonry which we rigorously seek to uphold. If you are new to the Chichester area or a resident and wish to expand your circle of friends / develop a new interest, we could be just what you are looking for? We meet at the heart of Chichester in South Pallant with nearby parking and bus & rail services.
#attheheartofchichesterfreemasonry
When do we meet?
We meet on the second Wednesday of February, April, July, September, October and December.
Lodge of Instructions (practice sessions) are held on the first and third Wednesday of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November and December.
Social Media
Follow us on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter)
@BES8256
What happens at a Lodge Meeting?
Our meetings consist of three elements:
The Ceremony
The ceremonial parts are conducted in our Lodge Room and are based on a number of plays teaching morality to our members.
Informal time
Informal time that we spend together in the bar, catching up with friends and meeting new people.
Dinner
The 'Festive Board' or dinner that we enjoy after which consists of a number of courses, speeches and frivolity.
How much does Freemasonry Cost?
First thing to note as we get reminded frequently is that Freemasonry certainly isn't 'free'! However it is an increasingly affordable hobby and to illustrate this we have laid out the costs on this page.