Bispham with Norbreck Chapter No 4731
of Royal Arch Masons
Consecrated 31st March 1930
E,Comp. P. Greathead................................M.E.Z
E.Comp. R.T. Flitcroft.......................................H
E.Comp. A.L. Ross...........................................J
The Chapter was consecrated on March 10th 1930 at the Cliffs Hotel, Promenade, Blackpool and the first Installation was in September. By the time of the next meeting were recorded of H., E,Comp. P.A. Spencer and E.Comp. H.F. Harrison who had been the consecrated H. The loss of two senior members must have been a bitter blow to the new Chapter. Due to the great number of guests at the Consecration and new furniture, which was purchased for the Chapter, resulted in an overdraft, according to the fist accounts of £67-12-1d. There were only eight members present when these accounts were presented and a proposition was passed to introduce a visitors dining fee of 4/- to alleviate the situation. The following year's accounts showed only £23 for refreshments. The bank overdraft was not discharged until1939. Since that time the finances of the Chapter have enjoyed better fortunes. The original subscriptions were £2-2-0 and it is remarkable that they remained at this level until 1964 when they were raised to £3-3-0. By the 25th Anniversary of the Chapter, in 1980, they had increased to £9 and today stand at £22. Nine new members were exalted during 1937, which included three at one convocation. At the May meeting in 1938 a resolution was passed to change the meeting from the second Friday to the third Tuesday of the month.
With the outbreak of the Second world War in September 1939 the Installation was cancelled by command of Supreme Grand Chapter. The Cliffs Hotel was requisitioned at twenty four hours notice and of necessity the Chapter furniture, together with that of Craft and Mark Lodges of the same name, was unceremoniously bundled into the cellars. It was later removed to repositories in various parts of Blackpool and St Annes and when again the Chapter was reconvened in November 1939 it was at the Blackpool Masonic Hall, where it has been ever since.
It was shortly before this meeting that the First Principal discovered that the Warrant was missing, and a frantic search was instigated of the several repositories. The Warrant was eventually discovered by the First Principal in a vault in St Annes and on emerging to the light of day he was met by the Provincial Grand Superintendent who transported him back to Adelaide Street. Later, Supreme Grand Chapter suggested that the Warrant is photographed and the original deposited with a bank for safe keeping for the duration of the War.
In 1951 the date of the Installation was changed from September to November and it was about this time that fifty £1 shares were purchased in the Masonic Hall. A proposition in March 1951, to change the place of the venue to the Imperial was defeated. The voting was 25 for and 16 against and as a two thirds majority had not been obtained the Chapter remained at Adelaide Street. The matter was raised again in 1960 with a similar result but as a consequent Saturnian Chapter was formed with a majority of founder members from Bispham with Norbreck Chapter. Saturnian Chapter meets at the Imperial Hotel, of course.