Royal Arch Masonry
The Holy Royal Arch is a stand-alone degree of Freemasonry which candidates are able to join four weeks after completing their third degree of Craft Masonry - It is often seen as an extension to the Craft.
The teachings of the Royal Arch are based on the Old Testament, telling of the return to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity to rebuild the City and Temple. In clearing the ground of Solomon's Temple for the foundations of a new temple, the candidate makes important discoveries.
The lessons learned from these discoveries, are appropriate to that stage in a candidate's Masonic development.
Once exalted (initiated) into a Holy Royal Arch Chapter, a candidate becomes a Companion.
As with the Craft Degrees, the Province of Bristol performs the ceremony different to anywhere else in the world, which encourages many companions from far and wide to visit and witness our unique Royal Arch workings.
The main element of attraction is our ceremony called ‘passing the veils’, which is performed prior to a candidate entering the Chapter room and being exalted – a ceremony which is only actively performed in England by the Province of Bristol.
Holy Royal Arch Chapters in the Province of Bristol
The Royal Clarence Chapter No. 68
The Beaufort Chapter No. 103
The Chapter of Charity No. 187
The Moira Chapter of Honour No. 326
The Jerusalem Chapter No. 686
The Whitson Chapter No. 2943
The Saint Augustine Chapter No. 3108 [History]
The Cabot Chapter No. 3884
The Peace Chapter No. 3992
The Saint Paul Chapter No. 6400
The Temple Chapter No. 6673
The Bristol Installed First Principals Chapter No. 8168
The Matthew Chapter No. 9688
The Sportsmen's Chapter No. 9841