History of the Province

Middlesex Provincial Priory 1970-2020

I was delighted and honoured to be asked to produce a History of the Province as part of celebrating our 50th Anniversary. Only a very brief overview is provided here but a more substantive history may also be downloaded.

On the 24th July 1970, at 10 Duke Street, Piccadilly, London SW1, four Preceptories enabled the Provincial Priory of Middlesex to be Constituted (Three Preceptories is a minimum requirement for a Province to be formed). Those sponsoring Preceptories, who seceded from London (Metropolitan), were:
Staines Preceptory No. 253
Herga Preceptory No. 268
Twickenham Preceptory No. 388
and Uxbridge Preceptory No. 394

These sponsoring Preceptories participated in the ceremonial at the Installation Meeting in that they each nominated one member to act as a cushion bearer and three members to form a Bodyguard.

At that meeting Eminent Knight Colonel Bernard Stuart Horner, O.B.E., M.A., P.Gt.Swd.B. was Installed as our first Provincial Prior. His Installation was conducted by The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master, Rt. Hon. The Lord Harris, M.C., V.L., G.C.T.

Southgate Preceptory No. 429 was the first unit to be Consecrated in the new Middlesex Provincial Priory on the 19th November 1970. The Province has subsequently, and gradually, expanded through the Consecration of the following Preceptories:
Gauntlet Preceptory No. 449 - 31st May 1974
All Hallows Preceptory No. 450 - 25th June 1974
Lanfranc Preceptory No. 485 - 31st October 1977
Middelseaxe Preceptory No. 518 - 11th November 1982
Mount Lebanon Preceptory No. 573 - 4th January 1992
Arch of Steel Preceptory No. 591 - 18th July 1994
Thomas Dunckerley Preceptory No. 627 - 22nd September 2001

Today we have 253 Memberships although the actual number of Subscribing Members is a little less as there are multiple Memberships of some Brother Knights. The 12 Preceptories that form the Provincial Priory of Middlesex meet at four masonic centres, as follows;
Twickenham District Masonic Centre (Cole Court) – Staines Preceptory No. 253, Twickenham Preceptory No. 388, All Hallows Preceptory No. 450, Mount Lebanon Preceptory No. 573, Arch of Steel Preceptory 591 and Thomas Dunckerley Preceptory No. 627.
Harrow District Masonic Centre – Herga Preceptory No. 268, Gauntlet Preceptory No. 449 and Lanfranc Preceptory No. 485
Uxbridge Masonic Centre – Uxbridge Preceptory No. 394
Southgate Masonic Centre – Southgate Preceptory No. 429

One Preceptory, namely Middelseaxe Preceptory No. 518 meets at Cole Court in May and at Harrow in October. Middelseaxe and Arch of Steel are known as 'Service' Preceptories. Middleseaxe is a Past Preceptors Preceptory whilst members of Arch of Steel either have been or are Members of the Provincial Prior's Bodyguard.

The geographic spread of the centres at which Preceptories meet provides opportunities for new and existing members to enjoy their Knights Templar freemasonry. It should be further noted that Southgate and Mount Lebanon Preceptories meet on Saturdays which is helpful to those wishing to meet on this day of the week.

The Province is proud of its origins, the way it has evolved and the strong bonds of friendship that exits in its membership. Importantly these bonds of friendship have extended from the individual Preceptories into the Provincial Prior's Bodyguard. Supporting the work of the Preceptories and the Bodyguard is our Preceptory of improvement. There is one Middlesex Preceptory of Improvement which meets at three locations, providing an opportunity for friendships and understanding to develop more deeply.

Very Eminent Knight Silverio Leonard Ostrowski, P.Gt.Reg.
Provincial Sub Prior for Middlesex
July 2021