The Court of Athelstan is one of the youngest Masonic Orders having been started in 2005 but its origins go back over 1000 years to the time of King Athelstan.
For some time Brethren have been working behind the scenes to bring the Order to Guernsey and the Channel Islands and on Saturday with over 70 visitors from the UK and 20 founding members the big day took place.
Brethren started arriving throughout last week, many with their partners and on Friday night a wonderful social evening took place at the Rocquettes Hotel where Brethren got to know one another.
The following day many Guernsey Brethren and family members helped assist with travel for the many visitors to the Masonic Hall early on Saturday morning where much had already been set up the previous day for the big event.
A wonderful day was had by all seeing 13 local Brethren instructed into the Order in the morning with a special progression for 6 one of which was the first Primus Master Elect, Bro. Russell Alexander Andrew Johnson who heads the new Court and after a fantastic lunch the Court of Lenuri No 202 was consecrated in the Province of Sussex which is the area the new Court falls all be it being in the Channel Islands.
A special moment also took place when Head of Guernsey and Alderney Freemasons Phillip A. Falla had a promotion to Past Grand Sword Bearer, making him a Very Worshipful Brother in the Order.
To see a full write up about the day in a special newsletter from the Order please visit https://www.surreycompanionorders.com/news-athelstan or check out the extract below the picture gallery.
If you are interested in joining the Order there are leaflets in the foyer of the Masonic Hall or ask one of the founding Brethren featured in the picture or contact the W Bro Allan Gaudion who is the Secretary of the Court of Lenuri No 202.
The Consecration of a new Court in the Province of Sussex, The Court of Lenuri No. 202 at the Guernsey Masonic Centre on Saturday the 7th of March 2026.
Present was the Head of the Order the Grand Master M.W.Bro Charles Jonathan Aspinell, GCAG, the Assistant Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Lionel Broadbent Mee, GCAG, the Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Mark Peter Donovan, GCAG, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro. Bernard Frank Marchant, KCAG, PSGD and a large team of Provincial Officers. There were also many guests from Provinces all over England totaling over 70 over seas visitors.
In the days leading up to the Consecration Brethren from the Province of Sussex, some with their partners, and Brethren from other Provinces flew into Guernsey on Aurigny, Guernsey’s airline. The intrepid Marshal, W.Bro. Mickey Wiles, KAG, took all our equipment over by ferry, a 10 hour journey.
The visitors stayed at Les Rocquettes Hotel in St Peter Port, a short taxi ride from the airport. On Friday evening they all met up for dinner, which gave the opportunity to meet and get to know the Brethren who were to be Instructed into the Order the next day.
After breakfast on Saturday, the visitors were ferried across to the Masonic Hall by the Brethren of Guernsey and their families where rehearsals for the ceremonies were taking place.
In the morning an Especial Meeting of the Provincial Grand Court of Sussex was opened by the Provincial Grand Master for the purpose of Instruction & Special Progression. This was followed by a light lunch then the Consecration of the Court of Lenuri No. 202 took place in the afternoon, followed by dinner.
The Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro. Mark Peter Donovan, GCAG, opened Provincial Grand Court in shortened form and salutations were given under the direction of the Provincial Marshal, W.Bro. Mickey Wiles, KAG.
The Grand Master, MW Bro. Charles Jonathan Aspinell, GCAG, accompanied by the Assistant Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Lionel Broadbent Mee, GCAG., entered in procession and salutations were given under the direction of the Deputy Provincial Grand Marshal, W.Bro. John Billett.
A ballot was taken for 13 brethren as candidates for Instruction. This proved in their favour, and W BroLeslie Grout was invited to conduct the Instruction Ceremony.
The ceremony was conducted by W.Bro. Leslie in his own special way, assisted by W & Em Bro. Chris Eley who delivered a long version of the Emblems of Mortality.
The Representative Candidate was Bro. Philip Andrew Falla, the Provincial Grand Master of the Craft Province of Guernsey.
At the conclusion of the Instruction Ceremony, W Bro Leslie Grout vacated the Chair of King Athelstan in favour of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro. Bernard Marchant, KCAG.
All those recently instructed were invited to leave the Court, with the exception of the six brethren who were to receive Special Progression . The Provincial Grand Secretary read the Dispensation and a duly Constituted Board of Installed Masters was declared open.
The Primus Master Elect, Bro. Russell Alexander Andrew Johnson, was conducted by the Provincial Marshal to the kneeling stool and the remaining Candidates stood to the rear in two columns adopting the sign of Reverence while the Provincial Eminent Grand Prior gave the Installation Prayer.
The Brethren took the Obligation with respect to the secrets of an Installed Master of this Order, following which the Provincial Grand Prior symbolically anointed each Brother to rule as Worshipful Master of a Court. They were then each raised by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master who presented the traditional history of the Order. The Brethren were then hailed, greeted, and recognised with acclamation.
The Provincial Marshal led the Candidates to their seats in the Court, and the Installing Officer declared the Board of Installed Masters closed. The Provincial Grand Master assumed the Chair and closed Provincial Grand Court in shortened form.
The Brethren retired upstairs for a light lunch while some of us took the opportunity to rehearse the Consecration Ceremony to be held in the afternoon.
The Provincial Grand Master, the Consecrating Officer, and his team entered in procession and assumed their seats. The Court was opened in shortened form, and the opening Hymn was sung. Salutations were given under the direction of the Provincial Grand Marshal, and the Consecrating Officer thanked everyone for their fraternal salutation and greeted them well.
The Grand Master, MW Bro. Charles Jonathan Aspinell, GCAG, accompanied by the Assistant Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Lionel Broadbent Mee, GCAG., entered in procession and salutations were given under the direction of the Deputy Provincial Grand Marshal, W.Bro. John Billett.
The Consecrating Officer welcomed everyone to the meeting, especially those from other Provinces who had traveller far the support the Province of Sussex. He addressed the Brethren on the object of the Meeting and called upon the Provincial Eminent Grand Prior for prayer. The Petitioners stood in the body of the Court, while the Provincial Grand Secretary read the Warrant. The Consecrating Officer enquired of the Petitioners if they approve of the brethren nominated in the Petition to preside over them as Master and Wardens. They signified their approval with the sign of Fidelity.
The Consecrating Officer then constituted and formed his trusty and loyal Brethren, as a regular Court under the Grand Court of the Masonic Order of Athelstan in England, Wales and Provinces Overseas, under the style and title of Court of Lenuri No.202 and proceeded to Dedicate and Consecrate the newly constituted Court in accordance with ancient usage. The Petitioners resumed their places and the Consecrating Officer called upon the Provincial Eminent Grand Prior to deliver an Oration on the nature and purpose of our Institution. The Provincial Eminent Grand Prior concluded the Oration with the Dedicatory Prayer. The Consecrating Officer, Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Grand Secretary perambulated four times around the Court scattering corn, the emblem of abundance and plenty; pouring wine, the emblem of joy and gladness; sprinkling oil, the emblem of peace and harmony; and salt, the emblem of fidelity, hospitality and everlasting friendship. The Provincial Eminent Grand Prior then perambulated the Court three times. On the first perambulation he censed the Central Dais. On the second perambulation he censed the Consecration Officers.
On the third perambulation he censed the Master designate, the Eminent Prior designate, the Senior Warden designate, the Junior Warden designate, and the Brethren. The Provincial Eminent Grand Prior then returned to his seat and gave the second part of the Dedication Prayer following which the Petitioners stood round the Central Dais while the Consecrating Officer by virtue of the power and authority vested in him Consecrated the Court of Lenuri No.202 to the service of the Supreme Being and Creator of all things, and Proclaimed that the Court of Lenuri No.202 on the Register of the Grand Court of the Masonic Order of Athelstan in England, Wales and its Provinces Overseas, was that day regularly Constituted, Dedicated and Consecrated.
The Provincial Eminent Grand Prior gave the Patriarchal Benediction. The Consecrating Officer declared Provincial Grand Court duly closed in shortened form and vacated the chair of King Athelstan in favour of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Charles Jonathan Aspinell, who Installed the Master Designate, Worshipful Brother Russell Johnson, into the Chair in a very sincere manner. The Installing Officer called upon the Brethren to acknowledge and greet the newly Installed Master and pledge our allegiance with the traditional Waepentake. W.Bro. Andrew Michael Henton, the Provincial Grand Master of the Mark Province of Guernsey, was invested as Immediate Past Master, and the Founders stood for the presentation of the Warrant. The Worshipful Master addressed the Most Worshipful Grand Master thanking him for making this such a special day for the Court of Lenuri.
The Most Worshipful Grand Master then asked the Marshal to present Worshipful and Eminent Brother Philip Andrew Falla to him. He thanked the Provincial Grand Master of the Craft Province of Guernsey for all his assistance in making today happen and gave him a Field Promotion to Past Grand Sword Bearer, making him a Very Worshipful Brother. V.W.Bro. Philip was taken aback and very moved by the kind gesture. The Most Worshipful Grand Master then retired from the Court with Officers of Grand Court.
The Court Officers were then appointed and invested. Very Worshipful Brother Philip Andrew Falla was appointed as the Prior of the Court. Worshipful and Eminent Brother Chris Eley, Consecrating Prior, was called upon to perform the rite of Consecration and Dedication. The Brother Priors of the Vigil were assembled in the north and south and V.W. Bro. Philip Andrew Falla and W.Bro. Andrew Michael Henton were Consecrate Priors in the Masonic Order of Athelstan in England, Wales and its Provinces Overseas.
Very Worshipful Brother Philip Falla was dedicated as Eminent Prior of the Court of Lenuri No.202, received the staff of his Office, assumed his station at the left of the Worshipful Master, and was greeted as the new Eminent Prior with three under the direction of the Marshal. The Brother Priors of the Vigil resumed their stations, and the remaining Officers were appointed and invested.
Worshipful Brother Andrew Fox delivered the Installation Address in an excellent manner from the west. The Right Worshipful Consecrating Officer and the Consecrating Team then retired from this Court in procession.
After the Court was closed we all returned for photographs before going up to the bar for well-earned refreshment. We then sat down to a most enjoyable meal together before going back to our hotel for more refreshments and good natured conversation.
After the meal had ended the Worshipful Master thanked the Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Master for making this such a special day for the Brethren of the Court of Lenuri and presented them with a gift as a token of his appreciation.
To find out all about the order check out the website https://www.athelstan.org.uk/home/about-the-order/history-of-this-order
To see the facebook page for the Masonic Order of Athelstan please check out https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064925760910
