Blackpool Group of Lodges
St Cuthberts Church Lytham celebrates 175 years
Masonic connection a cornerstone of church’s success…
Parishioners at one of Lancashire’s oldest churches have something to celebrate this year – and so too does the Masonic movement.
For as St Cuthbert’s Parish Church in Lytham marks its 175th anniversary with a series of special events - concerts, exhibitions and even a planned flypast by the world famous Red Arrows – local freemasons know they have played a major part in its success over the years.
No less than eight vicars who have served at St. Cuthbert’s have also been – or still are - freemasons. It’s a remarkable achievement and members of the local West Lancashire Lodge are keen to know if any other church can come close.
But it’s among the congregation that freemasonry has proved to be one of the most enduring influences on church life. Dozens of brothers (?) have become known as loyal and devoted members of church life. Many have been – and still are – well known figures in the local community.
And none more so that Sir Knowles Edge Bt.PGD.APrGM. A familiar name to many churchgoers from the mid to late 20th century, Sir Knowles was a valued and staunch member of the congregation. As eventual Provincial Grand Master for West Lancashire, his duties took him all over the region. But he also made sure he took his Christian beliefs of benevolence and charity to the heart of the many local communities he visited.
Sir Knowles Edge (Baronet)
On the death of his father in 1948, Sir Knowles Edge became the second Baronet. The family coat of arms bears the motto ‘Officio egere nolo’ meaning ‘I do not like to fall down on my duty’ and this was displayed on the family banner used at all the provincial grand lodge meetings.
He supported his Anglican faith as a church warden for many years at St Cuthbert’s Church of England, Lytham, on the Fylde coast.
Sir Knowles was initiated into Semper Fidelis Lodge No 4428 on January 7, 1935 and became Master in 1942. He joined Lathom Lodge No 2229 in 1946. Two years later he helped to found Melita Lodge No 6783 and in 1949 was a founder and First Master of Kilgrimol Lodge No 6851. Kilgrimol was the name of the village and church which was said to have existed in ancient times off the Lytham coast which was washed away by the tides.
He became a member of Amoundernes Lodge in 1958 and Setantia Lodge of Installed Masters No 7755 in 1963. St George’s Lodge of Harmony No 32 made him an honorary member in 1962 and in 1957 he became Assistant Provincial Grand Master.
In 1968 at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, in the presence of HRH the Duke of Kent he was installed as Provincial Grand Master. His last appearance as PGM was at the Guild Hall, Preston, in October 1980
As a permanent tribute to his service to Freemasonry, there is a bust of Sir Knowles in the Corinthian Room at Hope Street Masonic Hall, Liverpool.
Roll call
Masonic vicars who have served at St Cuthbert’s
1870: Henry Beauchamp Hawkins.
1914: John Sinker.
1922: Herbert John Rosher.
1938: Henry Leonard Fosbrooke
1944: Arthur Lionel Jarville Shields.
1960: Charles Henry Lambert.
1966: John Flitcroft.
1994: Godfrey Ian Hirst
There was a church in Lytham in 1199 when Richard Fitz Roger, who is supposed to have belonged to the Banastre family, gave all his lands in Lethum (Lytham), with the church of the same village - and all things belonging to the church - to God, and the monks of Durham.
The grandfather of Richard Fitz Roger had pulled down the original church, made of shingle, and replaced it with another of stone dedicated to St Cuthbert. The building lasted until 1770 when it was replaced by a low building, constructed of cobblestones, with walls more than a yard thick and penetrated by five windows, one of which was at the east end.
Sixty four years later, this church was also pulled down - unable to accommodate the increasing influx of visitors during the summer. The foundation stone of the current church was laid by Thomas Clifton on the 20 March 1834.
The current church is a building of red brick in the late perpendicular style, consisting of a chancel, clerestoried nave, aisles, south porch and an embattled tower at the west end containing eight bells.
So who was St. Cuthbert?
Although tradition says that Cuthbert was the son of an Irish king, it is most likely that he was born in the vicinity of Melrose, in present day Scotland, of poor parents. Certainly we know that he tended sheep on the hills above the abbey when he was older.
He spent several years as a soldier, probably in the service of the Kingdom of Northumbria against the attacks of King Penda of Mercia. After that conflict ended, Cuthbert entered the monastery at Melrose, where his devotion earned him high praise.
In 664 he became Prior of Melrose, but was then sent to the Priory of Lindisfarne to ease the transition to Roman tradition in that house. In 676 the abbot granted him leave to retire to take up the simple life of a hermit.
After several years of austere life on Farne, Cuthbert was reluctantly persuaded to return to a more active role in the church, and became Bishop of Lindisfarne.
His consecration was held at York on Easter, 685. He returned to Lindisfarne, but his time was short. By Christmas, 686 he felt his death approach, and Cuthbert resigned his see and returned to Farne Island. He died on March 20, 687.
But the story of Cuthbert does not end there. He was buried at Lindisfarne Priory, where his tomb quickly became a magnet for pilgrims. Miracles were reported at his grave. In fact, so numerous were the reported miracles that Cuthbert was called the ‘Wonder-worker of England’.
But 200 years after his death Lindisfarne was attacked by the invading Danes, so the monks fled to Melrose – and took Cuthbert’s remains with them.
One of the places they rested was Lytham – and the stone cross by the present day cricket ground allegedly marks the exact spot.