The Old Roffensian Lodge No 8006

meets at The Masonic Hall, Gundulph Square, Rochester.

Can you answer the following question – which is the second oldest school in the
United Kingdom?

The Lodge was consecrated on 12 January 1965 at the Masonic Hall in Gundulph Square with sixteen Founder members drawn from Old Boys, representing a wide range of occupations, and from Masters at King’s School. The Lodge meets four times a year in October, December and March, with the Installation meeting in June. There is no Lodge of Instruction.

King's is the second oldest school in the United Kingdom, dating back to 604AD. It is located in the centre of the historic city of Rochester, nestling amidst the tranquil setting of the Cathedral precincts, and in the shadow of a castle which boasts one of the finest Norman keeps in the country.

The name of 'King's School' dates from the Protestant Reformation, when, in 1541, King Henry VIII reconstituted the Cathedral Foundation after the dissolution of the Monastery; although there has been a school on the Cathedral Foundation since 604 AD.

There have been over eighty members since the Lodge was formed but at any one time the number have always been small; currently there are 25. In 1978 the Lodge moved to the St George Hotel in Chatham in search of better catering arrangements. Then in 1996 the Lodge moved back to Gundulph Square.

In June 1969 the Founders generously presented a splendid Loving Cup and in 1990 a silver goblets for the Master and two Wardens to use at the festive board. The Loving Cup is used at every meeting and passed from Brother to Brother while the School Song is sung. The Lodge banner is always displayed behind the Master’s chair when the Lodge meets. Being a School Lodge, the members come from near and far to attend the four meetings each year and most are members of other Lodges. Regular attendees currently come from Broadstairs, Dover, Bury St Edmunds, Reading and Wisbech, as well as from North Kent.

Originally the by-laws specified that the Lodge was open to Old Roffensians, who are the past pupils at King’s School, Rochester, Kent, and Masters and Governors at the School.

This was later expanded to include Choristers & Lay Clerks of the Cathedral who had signed the Foundation list. As time went on the criteria were further expanded to include siblings and fathers of Old Roffensians and then sons of Old Roffensians. This latter clause recognised that since girls had been admitted into the School Sixth Form in the 1980s, and into the Preparatory School from 1993, their sons could also be accepted…! However, to move into the future, the Lodge has further widened its membership criteria to embrace men who do not necessarily have a connection with the School but who live and work in North Kent and who can appreciate both the ethos of a school founded over 1400 years ago and the moral aims of Freemasonry.

Because the Lodge membership is small and members are scattered, social events, such as a summer lunch with our ladies, are only occasional and the Lodge does not get involved in the local Medway community. However there is a ‘white table’ once a year in October or December. In the past two years these have been open evenings which seek to attract new members. They have taken the form of a concert of ‘a cappella’ music as two members of the Lodge sing in a long established ‘a cappella’ male voice quintet and are also members of the East Kent Provincial Choir.

The Lodge celebrated its fortieth anniversary in 2005 and with perseverance and fortitude aims to attract new members who will uphold the Masonic principles of care and charity far into the foreseeable future.

For further information about the Lodge, see Old Roffensian Lodge.

If you would like to profile your Lodge, contact .

Top of Page