Essex Jubilee Preceptory - 0489
This Preceptory was constituted in 1974
The Preceptory meets at;
The Square at Upminster,
Deyncourt Gardens,
Upminster, Essex.
RM14 1DF.
Meeting on;
3rd Thursday in January
2nd Tuesday in May (Installation)
3rd Thursday in October
Registrar
E.Kt Geoffrey Waddoups
Reg489@essexkt.org
History
Although Knight Templar Masonry had been in evidence in Essex since some time in the
1780’s (in Colchester) and especially so during the period following the appointment
of Thomas Dunckerley as Provincial Grand Master (of the Craft) and then when he took
on the role of Grand Master of the Knights Templar in 1791, it’s growth during the 1800’s
was spasmodic and there were several “false dawns”.
It was not until September 1930 that Essex was Consecrated as a stand alone KT Province
in its own right. By the mid 1970’s there were thirteen Preceptories and so to celebrate
the Golden Jubilee of the Province in 1980 Essex Jubilee Preceptory was formed.
The Warrant of the Preceptory is dated the 1st May 1979. The earliest meetings were held
at Wickford, upstairs above Simpsons Restaurant, which was also the Masonic home of several
similar units of the “Other Degrees” in Freemasonry, as well as Hugo de Payens Preceptory,
No. 467 which had been founded just three years previously.
When in the mid-2000’s it became known that Simpsons was closing due to the site and the
surrounding area being re-developed Essex Jubilee Preceptory moved to its current home at
the Upminster Masonic Centre whilst Hugo de Payens moved in the opposite direction further
east to a new venue at Rochford Masonic Hall.