About us

Swan of Avon Chapter, No. 2133 is now 106 years old, having reached its 100th Birthday on 13th June 2019.

Delayed by the COVID-19 Pandemic is that The Chapter still looks forward to formally celebrating this famous milestone.

Based at the Masonic Hall in Great William Street Stratford upon Avon, Swan of Avon Chapter meets on the third Tuesday of January, March, September and November with officers meeting followed by rehearsal on the Wednesday of the preceding week.

As to be expected in such an old established Chapter, among the current membership of 34 are companions of considerable experience both in Craft and in Royal Arch. Indeed, one current Member is a Past M.E.G.S.

Happily, current Chapter membership also includes many relative newcomers to the Holy Royal Arch.

Contributing greatly to the atmosphere ceremonially and at the festive board, our Swan of Avon Organist has been famous in Craft for 10 years as the Warwickshire Provincial Grand Organist

Swan of Avon is a very lively and successful Chapter.  The successes of David Garrick Lodge 4243 in Stratford upon Avon and De Montford Lodge 5155 in Henley-in-Arden have certainly been of benefit to our Chapter but we are nevertheless a broadly based Chapter crediting 8 different Craft Lodges for the initiation of our current membership who live not only in Stratford upon Avon but also in Henley in Arden, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Coughton, Wooton Wawan, Wellesbourne and Long Marston.

Swan of Avon Chapter is proud of and very much encourages its high standard of ritual and is currently blessed with talented and enthusiastic companions. However, as is well known, inclination, desire and indeed ability to excel at ritual varies enormously.

Progress is as far as possible very much open to individual choice.  A recent “exaltee” served as assistant and principal sojourner and passed through all three chairs to be installed as ME First Principal in less than 5 years.

Other candidates, for whatever reason, have preferred the back benches, either for a time or permanently. That has been their choice.

Swan of Avon is an active Chapter having conducted 7 Exaltations over the past 5 years, during which period all “First Principals” have been elected to that office for the first time.

And during that same period Swan of Avon Chapter companions have been honoured with a total of 12 Provincial Grand Chapter appointments or promotions, including a recent appointment as an “Acting Provincial Grand Steward”.

A recent highlight was in January 2016 when Swan of Avon Chapter was greatly honoured to host on behalf of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Warwickshire a Provincial Visit from the neighbouring Province of Oxfordshire. On that memorable occasion Swan of Avon Chapter successfully entertained no less than 33 Provincial officers.

Swan of Avon’s comfortable home at Great William Street is widely praised for its Catering. And the fact that the Chapter manages and stocks our own bar at this venue helps to keep costs down while contributing to a very sociable festive board.

Past Social events have included Sunday Lunch gatherings at a restaurant after the February Provincial Church Service and in 2019 a First Principal “at home” garden social.