Founding 

In 1920, twenty six Ryton Masonic Brethren met to discuss the formation of a new lodge. It was to be named Ryton Holy Cross Lodge after Ryton Holy Cross Church which had been built 700 years earlier in 1220. Those Brethren were to become the founder members.

The founding members of Ryton Holy Cross Lodge, No.4231 are listed below:-

W.Bro. I. George Maguire
W.Bro. James Buchanan
W.Bro. Edwin Joicey
W.Bro. Thomas E. Brown
Bro. Rev. Chas B. R. Hunter
Bro. Edward Johnson
Bro. E. B. Forster
Bro. William Rochester
Bro. Ralph N. Wilson

Bro. Fred W. Thompson
Bro. Robert Beveridge
Bro. James Buckham
Bro. John T. Wilson
Bro. Lieut.-Col. Frank R. Simpson
Bro. Charles Lamb
Bro. Frank Carter
Bro. Ralph Callendar
Bro. Wm. H. Lawson

Bro. Thomas Bell
Bro. John C. Hall
Bro. Joseph Dawes
Bro. William Charlton
Bro. Luther J. Lawrence
Bro. William Dodds
Bro. James Craig
Bro. Thomas Charlton

Consecration

The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Lord Ravensworth consecrated Ryton Holy Cross Lodge, No. 4231 in the Masonic Hall, Jackson Street, Gateshead on the 30th September, 1921.
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After consecration W.Bro. I.G. Maguire was installed as Master. Meetings were held in the Ryton Parish Hall and the first candidate W.Bro. E. Joicey, P.P.G.W was Worshipful Master in 1930 and served as Treasurer for fourteen years. His presence will always be remembered in the lodge as W.Bro. E. Joicey, P.P.G.W presented the heavy maul which is still in use.

Growth 

Indicative of the growing strength of the Lodge and interest in Masonry in Ryton was shown by the consecration of a daughter Lodge, Ryton St. Mary's in 1947, twelve months after celebrating Ryton Holy Cross's twenty fifth anniversary. In addition to Ryton Holy Cross and Ryton St Mary's, Ryton Holy Cross Chapter was consecrated in December 1961.

Our Crest

On the celebration of the 50th anniversary, an address was given by the Provincial Chaplain, to the assembled Brethren, explaining the significance of the crest used on all Lodge communications.
At the 60th Anniversary it may be timely to recall the strong ecclesiastical association with Ryton's oldest building, the Holy Cross Church. The figure embodied in the crest of the Lodge is that of St. Helena, copied from a carving on the pulpit of the Church. In the Lodge Room, the Volume of the Sacred Law printed in 1781, which bears on its cover the following Latin inscription 'To the Lodge of the Holy Cross Freemasons. The Rector and the Church at Ryton', was presented by the then Rector of Ryton, C.B.R. Hunter, one of the founder members.
Links to the past were re-forged in the 1980's. The Immediate Past Master's Jewel presented at the Consecration Ceremony to W Bro. T.E. Brown P.Pr.G.W. (Northumberland) and thought to have been lost was re-presented to the Lodge by the son of the original recipient. A condition was that the jewel was to be worn by the I.P.M. and not locked away in a safe. This condition was guaranteed by the late W Bro. R. Wood P.Pr. Asst.G.Supt of Wks.

Future

At the 75th Anniversary Ryton Holy Cross Lodge had had the privilege of having six members who had attained fifty years in Freemasonry namely:
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W Bro. E. Joicey Jnr
W Bro. J. Charlton
W Bro. J. McQueen
W Bro. J. Brougham
Bro. J. Dawes
Bro. J. Fewster

We at Ryton Holy Cross are very proud of our Lodge and History. The Officers and Brethren of Ryton Holy Cross Lodge are committed to our long term future and that is why the Lodge exists today. Ryton Holy Cross Lodge celebrated 90 years in 2011 and we are looking forward to our 100th in 2021.
Thanks must be extended to the Past Masters of the Lodge for their help in compiling this brief history.

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