United Grand Lodge of England

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The United Grand Lodge of England's Coat of Arms

Headquarters of The UGLE.

The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) is the main governing body of Freemasonry within England and Wales, and certain jurisdictions overseas (normally ex-British Empire and Commonwealth countries). It is the oldest Grand Lodge in the world. Together with the Grand Lodge of Ireland and the Grand Lodge of Scotland they are often referred to, by their members, as “the home Grand Lodges" or "the Home Constitutions."

The first grand lodge was formed on 24 June 1717 when four London lodges^{[citation needed]} came together at the Goose and Gridiron Ale House, St Paul’s Churchyard and formed The Premier Grand Lodge of England^{[citation needed]}. The Corporation of London has erected a Blue Plaque near the location of the original Inn. Before this there was evidence of Freemasons entering The Craft in both England and Scotland, the earliest being in Scotland.

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It was in the 1730s that Samuel Pritchard's book, 'Masonry Disected,' was published. It contained the details of all the passgrips and passwords of all the degrees. This book was on its third reprint within a week due to its popularity. In response to this the Grand Lodge of England changed around two of the pass-grips and passwords. So Irishmen who had become freemasons in Ireland and came to London, were not aware of these innovations and could not gain enty to the lodges of the Grand Lodge of England. So they ended up forming their own lodges and it was eventually in 1751 that this rival group of Freemasons formed their own rival Grand Lodge. They claimed that the Grand Lodge of England in London had made innovations and had departed from ‘the ancient landmarks’ whereas they claimed to be working ‘according to the old institutions granted by Prince Edwin at York in AD926.' It was for this reason they became known as the 'Antients' and referred to their older rival as the ‘Moderns.' For some 63 years they worked sometimes in parallel with and in most instances against, each other. Curiously, at the centre of both Grand Lodges there were members who were active in both.

It was in 1809 that the rival Grand Lodges appointed Commissioners to negotiate an equable Union. The negotiations took four years to complete but on 27 December 1813 a great ceremonial was held at Freemasons' Hall, London, at which the two combined to form the United Grand Lodge of England with HRH the Duke of Sussex (younger son of King George III) as the Grand Master.

Today, The United Grand Lodge of England or Grand Lodge is organised into a number of subordinate lodges. The Provincial Grand Lodges are approximately equivalent to the traditional counties of England. These form the local administration of the organisation. In London it is known as a Metropolitan Grand Lodge. Overseas jurisdictions that are controlled by Grand Lodge are organised into District Grand Lodges. There are a small number of lodges that are ungrouped and are administered directly from Grand Lodge.

Grand Masters: