The Preceptory was consecrated in on 11th December 1975. The Warrant is dated 4th December 1975.
The petitioners were Leslie Willis, Robert Taylor, Fred Wilson, Raymond Leonard Ringrose, Norman John Highwood, Cecil Edmund Robert John Sayer, George Parkin, Harry Lee, James Edmund Cattell, William Durance, Alexander Ernest Reed, Charles Herbert Barnes, Arthur Henry Phillippe, Hubert Edward Taylor, John Woods Archer, Alec Hanson Barker, Robert Bonner Williamson, and Henry Maynard Green.
The First Preceptor was to be Leslie Willis, First Constable Robert Taylor and the Second Constable Fred Wilson.
On Friday 25 April the Provincial Prior, R.E. Knight Malcolm Bilton, accompanied by his Provincial Team Officers, visited St. Paul's Preceptory in Skegness. The evenings events included the installation of the new Eminent Preceptor and the dedication of a unique stone carving made from stone excavated from Lincoln Cathedral's very own quarry.
STORY OF THE CARTER STONE
At the meeting of St Paul’s Preceptory 466 on Friday 14th June 2013 the treasurer Em Kt J M Clarke proposed we give £250:00 to St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital and £250:00 to Lincoln Cathedral. Seconded by Em Kt M Carter Registrar. All in favour.
On the following weekend 22-23rd June Lincoln Cathedral was hosting the European Stone Festival. Young Stonemasons from all over Europe were carving all Saturday and up to 2:00pm Sunday after which they were to lay down their chisels for the judging to take place followed by the auction of all the carvings.
Every year The Stone Festival is held somewhere in Europe. 2013 is the first time in 10 years that it has been in England, and the very first time in Lincoln. The theme was Food and Farming which is very apt for our county.
Em Kt Carter said he was intending to go to The Stone Festival so it was suggested he take the £250:00 and bid for a stone at the auction.
He arrived on the Sunday morning and strolled through the marquee where the carvings were being created and identified five which would be suitable for a Knights Templar Preceptory. He favoured The Blacksmith’s Anvil.
At 3:00pm prompt the auction commenced with well known local auctioneer Ian Walter conducting the proceedings.
Em Kt Carter’s hopes of acquiring a stone were dashed when the very first lot ‘Ceres The Goddess of Land’ went for £1000:00. An hour in to the auction and Lot 58 was an English Stonemason’s carving, the favoured Blacksmith’s Anvil. Bidding opened at £1000:00 and it was sold for £2700:00. Em Kt Carter later discovered that it had actually won the competiton.
At 7:00pm Lot 138, a carving of an apple went for £680:00 and the auction ended. The Dean of Lincoln Cathedral announced that £49,740:00 had been raised for Lincoln Cathedral Fabric Fund. He asked, rather tongue in cheek, if anyone cared to give him £260:00 to round the amount up to £50,000 he would give them a block of stone.
Em Kt Carter, still holding the St Paul’s cheque for £250:00 said he would give the £260:00 and did so with a personal donation of £10:00. He was introduced to Carol Heidschuster Cathedral Works Manager and Paul Booth Lincoln Cathedral Stonemason who invited Em Kt Carter to select a stone and said it would be carved with wording of his choice. Em Kt Carter chose a block of stone from The Cathedral’s own quarry, the only Cathedral in the United Kingdom to own a quarry.
After many telephone calls, emails and meetings the style, size and wording were finalised. Em Kt Carter sought the advice of V Em Kt R S Parsons, St Paul’s Chaplain who had a ‘eureka’ moment on 18 th July during the Installation ceremony of Rt Em Kt Malcolm Bilton as our new Provincial Prior. His exact choice of words are carved on the stone.
‘The Sword of The Spirit which is the Word of God’ from Ephesians 6 and is used in our ceremonies.
The carving was carried out to a very high standard by Paul Booth who delivered it to the home of Em Kt M Carter on Wednesday 25th September 2013.
Members of St Paul’s Preceptory gave private donations amounting to an extra £150:00 to Lincoln Cathedral.
So, sitting through the auction and seeing very fine works being sold for thousands of pounds, Em Kt Carter ended the day with a personalised carving made of stone from the Cathedral’s own quarry and a unique item which will be used in St Paul’s ceremonies for many years to come. All for £410:00.
Em Kt Carter was in the right place at the right time with the right amount of money. It was meant to be!!
THE STONE WAS NAMED ‘THE CARTER STONE’ AND DEDICATED BY THE RIGHT EMINENT PROVINCIAL PRIOR AND THE PROVINCIAL PRELATE AT ST PAUL’S INSTALLATION MEETING ON FRIDAY 25th APRIL 2014.
L to R:- E Kt Malcolm J. Forrest, Em Preceptor; E Kt Revd John D.R. Spriggs, Provincial Prelate; The Provincial Prior, R.E. Kt Malcolm F. Bilton and Em Kt Michael. Carter, Registrar, St. Paul's Preceptory.