The Masonic Housing Association celebrates 50 years of providing quality sheltered housing for Freemasons, their families, and communities. With five homes and 189 flats, it aims to raise awareness, increase Masonic-linked residents, and strengthen ties with care providers. Anniversary events are planned, and there are many ways to support, including volunteering, visiting properties, and spreading the word.

How much do you know about the Masonic Housing Association (MHA)? If your answer is “not much”, you are in good company! A recent survey found that even in Provinces containing an MHA property only a third of masonic respondents knew of its existence.

This article will provide you with some background to the Association, its plans and how you can be part of its future success.

The MHA was founded fifty years ago, in 1975. The Autumn 2024 edition of Freemasonry Today included an article by the Association’s chairman, Oliver Lodge, describing the MHA’s purpose and activities.

In summary, the MHA provides affordable and quality sheltered housing to Freemasons, their family and others in need, over the age of 55, who are able to live independently. There are five homes comprising a total of 189 flats, mostly one bedroom but some of which are suitable for couples. All the flats, in modern and well maintained buildings, are occupied and the level of tenant satisfaction is very high.

In the last annual report the Chairman mentioned the need for an up-to-date strategic plan. The key focus areas include a need to make the Association much better known to both Freemasons and their communities. The MHA is a fine example of the Third Pillar of UGLE’s Strategy in action i.e. Community Engagement.

The Association also wants to increase the proportion of residents with Masonic connections. This is currently less than 25%, but the majority are relatives rather than Freemasons themselves.

In the words of the Chairman:

“The MHA is a wonderful resource for English Freemasonry. But that of course only works if English Freemasons know it’s there! We want to help to extinguish loneliness among our members by offering comfortable homes in a setting that has instant familiarity to anyone in the Craft. Let there be no mistake: the MHA is open to tenants from the Masonic community, members of their families, lady Freemasons from those two great Grand Lodges with whom the new Council for Freemasonry formally links UGLE, and members of the local community, whether they have come across Freemasons before or not.”

The MHA also aims to work with tenants to help them plan how to ‘move on’ when they need a greater level of care - by maintaining effective links with Local Authorities and Masonic provision for those advancing in age, such as a closer alignment with RMBI care homes.

Several events are planned to celebrate the 50th anniversary. Parties are planned at Freemasons’ Hall and each of the homes will be organising a celebratory event to which local dignitaries will be invited, raising the profile of the Association and the contribution that it makes to the local community. For example the Hamilton Court (Essex) team are planning a drinks reception, followed by a three course lunch to be held at a local banqueting centre. Entertainment will be provided by a quartet of singers and a special MHA birthday cake served later in the afternoon!

The Association is particularly grateful to the Grand Stewards’ Lodge for helping fund the anniversary celebrations. Their wonderful generosity is a real bonus!

There are many ways in which you can add to the continuing success of the Association.

As the Chairman and President have observed:

“The MHA depends on Freemasons volunteering – there are so many ways that Freemasons can help.”

For example, please visit any of the properties, particularly those local to you, and meet the staff and residents. They would be delighted to see you!

Consider applying to join the volunteers who serve on the House Committees and oversee the management of each property. The annual reports published on the MHA website provide details of each of the Committees’ work.

Maybe think about applying for a place at one of the properties for yourself or for a member of your family.

Tell others about the Association, its success and contribution to the lives of those in the local communities!

Thanks to the work of the Board and committees, support of the Local Authorities and other contributors we can all be proud of what has been achieved by the MHA over the past fifty years. Let’s all help make the next half-century equally successful!

Special thanks to Richard Twallin for his valuable contribution to this article.

Geoffrey Dearing, President Masonic Housing Association

© Masonic Housing Association 2025