W Bro Nick Horne describes this Grammar School's Lodge search for upcoming celebrations

Lovekyn Chantry No 6807 is a Surrey Lodge which meets in one of the oldest masonic venues in the UK, the Old Chantry Chapel, part of Kingston Grammar School.

The Lodge will celebrate its 75th anniversary in December 2023 and is starting a search for Old Boys that have found a masonic home elsewhere, especially in London and the Home Counties.

The plan for the event is gathering interest and impetus and as any Freemason might expect will include a splendid dinner. If you are one of the masonic lost boys of KGS, please contact us.

The Chantry Chapel, founded by Edward Lovekyn (1239 - 1310) and completed in 1309, has had a varied history. By 1352, it was already in dire need of repair due to the negligence of the founder s son Robert. Fortunately, another son John, four times mayor of London and a master of the Fishmongers Company, had the means to secure a Royal consent to re-endow the building. His widow on remarrying William Walworth, another London Mayor and Master Fishmonger (and extremely wealthy), persuaded her new husband to continue the financial support from the early 1370s.

The Chapel served the town as both Chantry and Schoolroom from then until the dissolution of the Chantries in 1547. As a result, it was deconsecrated and fell into the hands of a court favourite Richard Taverner. He preserved the Chapel so that, when in 1561 the Bailiffs of Kingston petitioned Queen Elizabeth for a Royal Grammar School, the building was available for immediate use. The Queen decided that it should be the home of her Grammar School and endure forever. It continued as such for over 300 years as the centre of the School s life. It was not until 1904 that Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School became Kingston Grammar School.

In 1878, new school buildings were completed; hence the Chapel was displaced as the centre of activity. The chapel was again in need of care and attention, being close to collapse. Public subscription and the co-operation of the Kingston Corporation saved it for us and re-opened it as a chapel. However, as part of the school, it was also pressed into service as gymnasium, woodwork room, Junior Library, music rooms and occasionally an unofficial boys smoking room!

In 1961 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II graciously visited the School on its 400th anniversary. In 2005 Her Majesty popped in again to open the new Queen Elizabeth II Building. She unveiled a plaque, met with students of Music and Geography and watched an excerpt of the musical play "Smike" after which the new Recording Studio was named. The Chapel was again subject to repair and remodelling in 1992. £150,000 was raised by the Restoration Fund plus £40,000 from the Lottery Fund for landscaping. It has been regularly used since then by the Lodge which moved from meetings in the Gymnasium to the restored Chapel in 1995. The Lodge was conceived in the aftermath of the Second War by several old boys already Freemasons, including the then Headmaster EWH (Jimmy) James, and the Second Master A D Robinson. They chose the name to avoid confusion with the Kingstonians AFC, and a warrant issued, dated 1 Dec 1948. One quaint final detail is the black squares on the banner which were made by cutting up Headmaster James s academic gown.

If you are interested in visiting or joining this Lodge, please contact the Secretary, W Bro Nick Horne on 020 8977 9428 or email: GNicholasHorne@outlook.com, alternatively W Bro Jonty Powis; 01773 603913 or shipm4te@aol.com.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 43 January 2021 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons - Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in the Arena Issue 43.