St Thomas Lodge 6574

Introduction by Worshipful Brother Victor John Jenner JP MBA FBIM PJGD

As the longest subscribing member of the Lodge, and therefore its ‘father’, I am privileged to support this website.

In 1948 the Founders named the lodge St Thomas after the cathedral church of Portsmouth, and the crest shows the clock and bell tower still standing today above the cathedral in the High Street .

The Founders were all from the Lodge of Hope No.2153 EC (see Family Tree), consisting of naval and ex naval personnel, members of the business community and local service agencies.

The Lodge has always had strong ties with the local community and support of its charities.

In the fullness of time the Lodge sponsored our daughter lodges, Cathedral Lodge Portsmouth No.7753 EC, so aptly named, and Drayton Lodge No.8832 EC (see Family Tree), which like St Thomas continue to flourish.

The principles and tenets laid down by the Founders still appertain today, I feel very privileged to have been a member of the lodge since 1955.

Yours sincerely & fraternally
Victor John Jenner
Grand Officer
United Grand Lodge of England

Welcome by Worshipful Master Eddie Widnall

Thank you for looking at the website for St Thomas Lodge No.6574 in the English Constitution.

My name is Eddie Widnall and I’m the current Master of the Lodge, which means I hold that position for a year. After that time another brother, who has the correct qualifications, will be elected by the brethren of the Lodge to replace me.

St Thomas Lodge was formed in 1948 and I’m the 61st Master. So I follow a long line of other Masters and we hope that this succession will follow on for a number of years yet.

One of the most frequent questions I’m asked by non Masons is - What is Freemasonry, what do you all do, and why is it so secret?

Well, I think this is answered very well in the two sections of the website - What is Freemasonry & FAQ.

Why is it so secret? Can it be all that secret if we have a website?

If you Google 'Freemasons', you will get hundreds of hits.

We do have things we keep confidential between ourselves, but so do lots of other organisations.

If you want to find out more about us, please use the contact form on the site and someone will get back to you.

Once again thank you for looking at our site, I hope you find it interesting and if it has set you thinking, let us know.

Yours sincerely & fraternally
Eddie Widnall
Worshipful Master 2008-2009
St Thomas Lodge No.6574 EC