Welcome to Andover Combined Services Lodge

Andover Combined Services Lodge is one of 5 Lodges who meet at the Keystone Hall in East Street, Andover. The Lodge meets formerly 7 times a year (March, April, May, September, October, November and December) Our meetings always consist of a ceremony, followed by a dinner which usually finishes by 10.30pm.

Andover Combined Services Lodge’s busy social calendar recognises the importance that wives, partners, friends and families play, and we have several evenings throughout the year where we encourage them to also attend, including dinner nights (usually with dancing), Christmas dinner and a Burns Night. Other lodges in the Centre and across the country also have similar events and members of Andover Combined Services Lodge, and their family and friends can attend those events too – we really do aim to build lifelong friendships!

Andover Combined Services Lodge No. 8300 was born from a very simple idea. In 1969, Bros Sam Tinsley and John Adams wanted to create a Lodge especially for serving and ex-serving members of HM Armed Forces. They understood the realities of Service life: postings, deployments and operational commitments could make it difficult to join a Lodge, attend regularly and progress through Freemasonry. Their aim was therefore to create a Lodge that understood those demands, welcomed those who served and allowed them to continue their Masonic journey whenever Service life permitted. Norman Gate Lodge No. 8116 agreed to sponsor the new Lodge, and the name “Combined Services” was deliberately chosen to recognise the individual traditions of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force while placing them together on equal footing.

The Lodge received its Warrant on 10 September 1969 and was consecrated in Andover Guildhall on 4 November that year, in front of 177 Brethren. From those military beginnings, Andover Combined Services Lodge has grown and evolved, and today welcomes suitable men from both Service and civilian backgrounds. Yet the spirit of its founders remains very much alive. We are proud of our Armed Forces heritage, proud of the traditions that have shaped the Lodge, and proud to remain a place where serving personnel, veterans and civilians can meet as equals in friendship and Freemasonry.