“Love of country is the Mason’s deed; world citizenship is his thought.” Benjamin Franklin
Would you like to make new friends while expanding your own social circle? Fill in the form below with your name and email address and click the button 'MORE INFO' to let us know you would like more information on joining Chillington Manor Lodge.
Rather than working on buildings like the masons of old, today’s Freemasons focus on building themselves as people of integrity, and membership provides the structure to help achieve that goal.
One of the oldest social organisations in the world, Freemasonry is not defined by an ideology. It is open to people from all religions and political persuasions and provides the common foundation for friendships between members, many of which will last for life.
With a membership of more than 200,000 people drawn from communities across the UK, Freemasonry brings people together irrespective of their race, religion or any other perceived differences that can divide us as a society
Kindness and charitable giving are deeply ingrained within the principles of Freemasonry. The organisation provides a support structure that helps members make positive contributions to communities and worthwhile causes through fundraising events or volunteer work
Chillington Manor was consecrated in 1924 and is a general interest Lodge. The Lodge has a good level of social activity, involving family and friends of members and non Masons and is working to extend that. The Lodge is one of the older Lodges meeting at Tovil Masonic Centre and is named after Chillington House AKA Chillington Manor, which is now Maidstone Museum
We meet on the second Wednesday of every month between October and April.
As a very sociable lodge, it's in our DNA, we hold a variety of social events of varying sizes throughout the year, culminating in our annual Ladies Festival each spring.
We have been active in the Maidstone community for more than one hundred years, supporting a wide range of local charities and other worthy causes.
As Maidstone Freemasons we are always interested in receiving requests for support from local charities and worthy causes that benefit our local community. If you think we can help you simply click the button below where you will find guidance notes and an application form to assist you with your request.
Read about our recent activities and events, click below to visit our news page.
Freemasonry’s roots lie in the traditions of the medieval stonemasons who built our cathedrals and castles.
It is here that a number of the famous elements of Freemasonry find their roots. In the medieval era, stonemasons often travelled around to find work in different locations. To demonstrate their level of qualification, they would use grips, words and signs in order to distinguish themselves from unqualified builders.
Freemasonry uses building analogies to teach members how to lead productive lives that benefit the communities that they live in. In the medieval era, stonemasons wore aprons and gloves to protect themselves while working on shaping rough pieces of stone, but in today’s society Freemasons meet to build friendships and communities rather than cathedrals and castles.
Let us take you on a journey back in time.
Women do have their place in Freemasonry. Women Freemasons have been meeting across the country for more than 100 years.
There are two female-only Grand Lodges: The Order of Women Freemasons and HFAF – Freemasonry for Women. They both follow exactly the same ceremonies and wear the same regalia as male Freemasons, and they often work closely with community and charity projects.
The United Grand Lodge of England has an excellent working relationship with both Grand Lodges. Members from Freemasonry for Women and The Order of Women Freemasons have both taken part in Open House London at Freemasons’ Hall in recent years in order to showcase female Freemasonry, as well as taking part in joint Freshers’ Fairs up and down the country as part of the Universities Scheme.
My name is Simon Drake. After a career in the Metropolitan Police I studied for a Doctorate in Geology where my specialisation is in ancient volcanic deposits of the Inner Hebrides on the Isle of Skye. I am a Freemason in East Kent and Surrey where I am a lodge membership officer, and head up the Provincial phone out teams for potential candidates.
I was first curious about freemasonry in my early 20’s as my then soon to be father-in-law is a freemason, now in his early 80’s. Freemasonry caters for a large age and background range! It’s fun, you will make some great friends and we contributeto many charities. If you are interested, get in touch. You will get a warm welcome at Chillington Manor Lodge.
I joined Chillington Manor Lodge in 2003 after a recommendation and found that I already knew a lot of other members. It ticked a lot of boxes for me. From the charitable causes it supports and the companionship. I have owned my own hearing aid business for many years and have been lucky enough to travel around the world working on Charitable Hearing Aid Missions, the most recent of these was supporting the Special Olympics in Berlin.
