The Lodge of St Christopher number 9095 was consecrated on 17 September 1983 at the Masonic Hall in Park Road, Stapleton.
The lodge is unique in British Freemasonry as it was formed to foster Masonic connections and friendships overseas.
In 1980 Peter Werkshagen of the Lodge of Fidelity decided to join the Markischen Hammer Lodge in Ludenscheid in West Germany. The Worshipful Master of Fidelity, W. Bro Philip Barton decided to go along and support Peter on the night. Thus the first link was formed between Markischen Hammer and Fidelity.
A number of personal visits then took place to ladies nights, and installations in the UK, where friendships were formed between W. Bro Norman Morris, W. Bro G. Rosenbohm the Worshipful Master of the Lodge “ZUM MARKISCHEN HAMMER” and in particular with W. Bro Jurgen Gust the deputy Worshipful Master.
During one visit to Fidelity, Jurgen Gust responded to the visitors toast and used the phrase “building of a bridge of brotherhood”. This took root in the mind of Norman Morris who along with Peter Werkshagen and Jurgen Gust started to investigate international involvement.
Following personal invitations Norman Morris, John Barnard, Peter Wershagen, Philip Barton and Imre Szerencses attended the Markischen Hammer Ladies Night on 5th December 1981.
The following day Norman Morris, John Barnard and Peter Werkshagen decided to start a new lodge devoted to international aims.
These original three very soon formed a steering committee with Norman Morris as chairman and John Barnard as treasurer, Peter Werkshagen recruited Eric Peirce as secretary and R. Whittaker also came on board.
Very soon there were 35 founders + 10 joining members listed and during the subsequent meetings the special aims and objectives of the lodge was agreed.
A petition to Grand Lodge was made and the Lodge was granted permission to proceed on the 8th June 1983.
The Consecration
What with the Provincial Grand Lodge team of 14, 33 founders, 10 original joining members, a Provincial Grand Master, Director of External Affairs and 12 German masons its fair to say space was at a premium.
The Lodge also needed to make room for the reigning Worshipful Masters in the temple and some especially selected brethren.
Early thoughts had been to hold the consecration in a much bigger place but nothing suitable was found except outside the province and so abandoned.
Guests were restricted to one per founder. However, in retrospect it was fit and proper to be consecrated in the Lodges home.
The ceremony was performed with great pageantry by the then Provincial Grand Master for Gloucestershire Right Worshipful Brother Cyril Hollinshead O.St.J. and his consecrating Officers.
The Founders & Officers
The first officers of the lodge and the founding members were;
| Name | Office Held | Lodge No |
| W. Bro. N. W. Morris P.M. | Worshipful Master | 6943 |
| W. Bro. W. R. Maggs P.P.G Std. B. | Senior Warden | 855 |
| Bro. W. A. Bishop | Junior Warden | 349, 8319 |
| W. Bro. W. H. D. Evans P.P.J.G.W (Som) | Acting IPM | 2556, 2964, 7964, 9011 |
| W. Bro. P. V. Barton P.M. | Chaplain | 6943 |
| Bro P. J. Cooper | Treasurer | 3992 |
| W. Bro. E. W. C. Peirce JP P.G. Stwd | Secretary | 6043, 8319 |
| W. Bro. B. T. Hall P.P.G. Supt. Wks. | Director of Ceremonies | 6943 |
| Bro. T. M. Rae | Senior Deacon | 41 (SC), 8658 |
| Bro. C. P. Werkshagen | Junior Deacon | 480 (GC), 6943 |
| Bro L. R. Brooks | Charity Steward | 3992 |
| W. Bro. C. L. Baker P.M. | Almoner | 7694, 8319 |
| W. Bro. P. F. Brown P.P.G. Supt. Wks. | Assistant Director of Ceremonies | 6043, 8319 |
| Bro. J. E. Barnard | Inner Guard | 6943 |
| Bro N. T. S. Weeks | Steward | 1363 |
| W. Bro. H. W. Lane P.M. | Steward | 6789 |
| W Bro. M. V. Mogg | Steward | 270 |
| Bro. E. G. Roberts | Steward | 5084 |
| Bro. N. Aspin | Steward | 1750 |
| W. Bro. L. A. Sheppard P.M. | Steward | 4701 |
| Bro. J. C. R. Jenkins | Steward | 6943 |
| Bro. K. W. Martin | Steward | 3992 |
| Bro. D. J. Hinder | Steward | 3992 |
| Bro. J. N. Peters | Steward | 7964, 9011 |
| W. Bro. R. T. Bates P.P.G. Swd. B. (Bristol) | Tyler | 6673 |
| W. Bro. M. H. Wells P.M | Founder | 5498 |
| W. Bro. E. J. Carver P.M. | Founder | 446, 855 |
| W. Bro. J. E. Hector P.M. | Founder | 6043 |
| Bro. D. W. Burrows | Founder | 832 (SC), 218 |
| Bro. E. M. Wood | Founder | 103 |
| W. Bro. H. H. Leviston P.M. | Founder | 3746, 5257, 7964 |
| Bro I. C. Brown | Founder | 8106 |
| Bro J. T. Hatherell | Founder | 4701 |
Early Development and Identity
The lodge has continued to meet at Stapleton Mason Hall from the date of consecration with little variation to the meeting format.
When the lodge was consecrated it was originally agreed to have six meeting dates. An additional meeting was added making seven to allow for installation and two candidates to be processed each year.
Around ten years ago the lodge made a slight change to the meeting dates and moved the June meeting to January. This decision was made as the June meeting was not regularly attended now making our last meet of the season May.
The special additional aims and objectives of the lodge are as follows;
- To strengthen the bonds of brotherhood with brethren in lodges abroad where recognised by United Grand Lodge of England.
- To provide a point of contact for such overseas masons should they visit the West of England.
- To arrange fraternal visits and demonstrations with lodges throughout the world.
- To encourage student exchange between children of masons similarly recognised throughout the world.
- That the brethren of the Lodge of St. Christopher should be prepared to offer accommodation, help, or support to visiting brethren of such recognised lodges on an exchange basis where possible.
- That members, candidates for initiation and joining should support these ideas and be encouraged to become proficient in a language other than their own.
Lodge of St Christopher - No. 9095 