Abbey Lodge No. 2529
Now over 130 years old
and still going strong
Here in Whalley Since 1894
1894 - Manchester City Football Club was founded Blackpool Tower was opened Harold Macmillan was born Abbey Lodge was founded.
Abbey Lodge 2529 first met in the Whalley Arms (now the Co-op) but moved to a new facility in May 1897.
Our Lodge Room
Lancashire’s Little Gem
The following is an extract from “History of Abbey Lodge 2529” written by Worshipful Brother R Neil Pickup on the occasion of the Lodge’s Centenary in 1994.
Visitors to the Lodge Rooms are immediately struck by the magnificent oak carved panels that adorn the room and furniture within.
The timber is said to be over 300 years old having originally been taken from Whalley Abbey and used in the building of the old Vicarage in Whalley. It was then taken from there to Abbey Lodge.
The chairs of the Worshipful Master, the Senior and Junior Wardens and the three pedestals together with other furniture are all hand carved by a local carpenter, “Young” James Langshaw who was also a member of Limestone Rock Lodge of Clitheroe.
James Langshaw (1865 – 1922) lived in Billington and is recorded in the 1891 Census as ‘Joiner’ as was his father William.
Hall Stone Lodge
For Over 100 Years
Abbey Lodge was invested as a Hall Stone Lodge on 5 September 1923.
To reach this status took considerable effort of which the present-day membership are justly proud.
Our Worshipful Master wears the Hall Stone Jewel on all Masonic occasions.
Our Lodge Today
A Happy Place for Fellowship
35 Members
in Abbey Lodge
Donated £4,691
To Non-Masonic Charities
in last 3 years
Donated £9,640
To Masonic Charities
in last 3 years.
This includes a donation of £4,500
to East Lancashire Festival 2026
We pride ourselves on our charitable giving.
We raise funds from members contributions and social events.
We distribute these funds to worthy causes both masonic and non-masonic and are proud of our giving record.
We also support the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) a national charity. You can see what the MCF has done in our Province in the past year here
Family Social Events are Part of Our Calendar
Abbey Lodge is a family-orientated Lodge with social events throughout the years for young and old alike.
We utilise our Hall premises for many of our events but don’t restrict ourselves to holding them there. Indeed, the highlight of each Master’s year – the Ladies Evening is always held at one of the regions large function venues.
You could be party to these events which is a good way to get to know prospective candidates and for them to get to know us.
The Cooperman Memorial Shoot
This Shoot is held annually in memory of John and Susan Cooper who tragically lost their lives whilst on holiday in Egypt.
John “Cooperman” Cooper was a crack shot when it came to clays. He was also our Lodge’s Charity Steward and through his good offices Abbey Lodge was able to support numerous local, regional and national charities.
The Cooperman Memorial Shoot is being continued in his name by his close friend Harvey Capstick also of Abbey Lodge.
Annual Postlethwaite Dinner held in December
Doctor Joseph M Postlethwaite was Whalley’s GP from around 1910 and was a Freemason dating back to his Cambridge University days around 1900. He celebrated 60 years of membership in 1960 with a Dinner to an Edwardian style menu.
Abbey Lodge has continued this celebration to this day.
Dr. Postlethwaite was instrumental in forming the Whalley Golf Club which has become our venue of choice for these Dinners.
Abbey Lodge Meets 8 Times a Year
Abbey Lodge meets at Whalley eight times a year on the second Thursday of October through to May inclusive.
We carry out Masonic business in open Lodge followed by a meal afterwards to which interested non-masons are invited. This meal is sometimes referred to as the Social or Festive Board.
We welcome interested gentlemen to visit our premises for a look around by arrangement.
A growing library of more than 3,000 images
Spanning over 16 years of activities in Whalley
We are justly proud of our photograph archive which spans the last decade of Abbey Lodge activities be they formal or informal.
We have on record the Clay Pigeon Shoots organised by the much-missed John “Cooperman” Cooper and subsequent Cooperman Memorial Shoots. There are numerous albums from social events as well as the dressed up do’s such as Ladies Evenings and Postlethwaite Dinners.
Winners at Cooperman IV Memorial Shoot
Come meet the Members of Abbey Lodge
Our membership covers a range of ages from 30 to 90 with different skills and hobbies – quite a diverse group of people.
Freemasonry is a fraternal society and in 2017 celebrated its 300th anniversary of the first Grand Lodge formed in 1717 in London. Some believe it to have evolved from the stonemason’s guilds and it has certainly been in existence in some form since the 1500s. It offers a philosophy on life and its main aim is to help men sculpt themselves into better men; better Fathers, colleagues, employers, husbands and friends. Every Freemason believes in the following:
Brotherly love: Showing tolerance, fairness, respect and kindness to others.
Relief: The practice of charity and care for Freemasons and the community as a whole.
Truth: Honesty and integrity and high moral standards in everyday life.
Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest and largest non-political, non-religious, fraternal and charitable organisations.
Come meet up with us in Whalley.
