About Cwm Rhondda Lodge.

Cwm Rhondda lodge has, has been in existence for 26 years, but I want to take you back to a time some years previous to that.

Although there were long-established masonic temples in Pontypridd and Pontyclun, there was not a masonic temple in existence in either of the Rhondda valleys, a situation unlike many other valleys in the South Wales area. There was, of course a Rhondda lodge by name, but this met in Pontypridd, and many brethren felt that a lodge should be established in the Rhondda valley to suit the needs of brethren living there.

It was decided that an upstairs room in the Griffin Hotel was a suitably sized venue to hold the lodge, harking back to the origins of freemasonry in the UK when lodges were mainly held in public houses, hotels and inns.

Consequently, a warrant, which is on display tonight, was obtained and on Tuesday 30th March 1999, a lodge consecration ceremony was held in the Masonic Temple in Guildford Crescent, Cardiff when the consecrating officer was R.W. Bro. The Rt. Hon. The Lord Swansea, who was, at that time, the Provincial. Grand Master – the first Worshipful Master of Cwm Rhondda being W. Bro. Des Barnett

Cwm Rhondda lodge met in the Griffin for a short while, but it was soon realised that the room was becoming too small to accommodate lodge members and the guests that they required to attend – members were limited to one guest apiece at that time - the number of brethren wishing to attend was growing and there simply wasn’t enough space to accommodate everyone.

The lodge couldn’t even accept any joining members from other lodges due to lack of space, which was hampering attempts to grow the membership and generally improve the lodge.

 Some idea of the space that was available can be gained by looking at the size of the chequered carpet that was/being used tonight, as this carpet was manufactured to fit the available floor area in the Griffin, and many brethren sitting in the front row had their toes stepped on when the candidate was perambulating the lodge. One candidate was manageable – two were virtually impossible.

So, a search was on for a larger venue and, as the RAFA Club as it then was, had a much larger room available, a dispensation was sought to move the lodge to a new location.

This move allowed Brethren. more room to change; more room to dine.

And here we have remained. In the intervening years, Cwm Rhondda lodge has continued to grow and go from strength to strength, such is its reputation that the lodge seems to have recovered very well post-Covid and there is currently a waiting list to become a member, and for the last 3 years interim ceremonies have been held by dispensation to cope with the backlog of applicants.

Cwm Rhondda also has the honour of having a very strong Royal Arch Chapter and Mark Master Masons Lodge.

The Future of Cwm Rhondda continues to look very bright indeed.