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VW Bro John Parry, Director Metropolitan Events and SILCs lead writes…
The team gets plenty of good ideas coming through from innovative and thoughtful Brethren who want to start a Special Interest Lodge (or Chapter – please consider Chapters as always included for the purposes of this article).The SILCs programme absolutely does work: to date some 80 Lodges have transitioned, 80 Warrants have been saved and 80 new units are now thriving.
It can seem like a complicated process with various hoops to jump through. Have no fear, the team will guide you through every step and support you from beginning to end.
We want the best result for you and to maintain a heritage that has successfully lasted for many hundreds of years.
I therefore wanted to give you a little insight into the thinking behind the processes for SILCs, this will help you establish a new Lodge identity with confidence and without hiccups.
Here are just a few of the questions we will work through with you:
- Do you have a community? I am delighted if you are a fan of butterscotch cheesecakes. But how many share your obsessions are others prepared to get on that bus. Once we see that others share your interests and have the same ambition we’re off and running.
- Do we have a home for you? The answer is a firm yes, but Brethren with good ideas are only half of the story. The SILCs initiative exists to help struggling Lodges to survive and grow. Not every struggling Lodge – some with long, illustrious heritages – will match perfectly with your ambitions and desire for change. We will find the correct fit for them and for you.
- How many members can you rely on? This speaks to both sides of the story. You may have 20 eager members; do the dates of the target Lodge clash? Equally, some members of the target Lodge might not feel that the future direction meets their interests. We usually expect one or two members (from both sides) to find another home during the transition, we can help with this. We look for 15-20 optimists across the innovator and target groups to ensure that a SILC makes viable sense.
- What is your strategy for marketing? If you have a popular interest (SILCs now cover everything from Rugby to LEGO, Scouting to Rock Music), you’ll certainly find plenty of Brethren to join your Lodge in addition to their own Lodge. One of the joys of SILCs has been that it broadened members horizons and has seen many Brethren join more than one Lodge.
But the real vein of opportunity is in attracting men from outside our fraternity – to give potential new candidates a new reason to discover Freemasonry. There is a Lodge Membership Officer in every SILC, and we will ensure that they get the support they need, from the very outset, to help market the Craft beyond the four walls of the temple.
I am hugely optimistic for SILCs – and just as excited about the programme’s transformative effect on London Masonry. We want your SILC idea to be a success.
Contact the team directly if you would like to begin a Special Interest unit; at surveying@johnflain.com.
Breathe life into your twin passions, start a new SILC.
This article is part of Arena Magazine Issue 60 – Spring 2026.
Arena Magazine is the official online magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.
Read more articles in Arena Issue 60 here.
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