The connection between the Lovekyn Chantry Chapel in the Province of Surrey, Kingston Grammar School and Lovekyn Chantry Lodge No. 6807 goes back 691 years.
    On 11 January 1309 Edward Lovekyn, Bailiff of the Borough, received Letters Patent from King Edward II to found a Chantry chapel. A few months later the licence of the Bishop of Winchester was granted, and in 1310 the chapel was consecrated and the first Chaplain installed.
    Edward died a few months later, and through misappropriation of the endowments by his son Robert, the chapel fell into decay until, in 1352, it was in a state of collapse. Then John Lovekyn, Edward’s son by a second marriage, Master of the Fishmongers’ Company and four times Lord Mayor of London, secured a Royal consent to re-endow the chapel, and Letters Patent were granted in 1352.
    After his death in 1368, his foundation of the chapel was further strengthened by a generous bequest from the second husband of the late John Lovekyn’s widow, who was to find a place in history as Sir William Walworth, who slew Watt Tyler, leader of the peasants’ revolt of 1381.
    In 1880 the chapel, again fell into decay. However, with the help of public subscriptions and the co-operation of the Kingston Corporation, it was restored and re-opened as a chapel.
    To commemorate the granting of the first charter, Queen Elizabeth II visited the school on 24 March 1961, to mark its 400th anniversary.
    The Lodge began over 50 years ago through Old Boys of Kingston Grammar School, together with the Headmaster. A Warrant dated 1 December 1948 was duly issued and the headmaster became the first Master. The Chapel could not be tiled properly, so for 46 years meetings were held in the school gymnasium.
    In 1992 the Governors formed a Trust to refurbish the chapel and the first Lodge meeting was held there in September 1995.
    Last year the Lodge celebrated its 50th anniversary and this year the chapel was honoured by a visit from HRH Princess Alexandra.