In the early 1900s  burgeoning  interest in Freemasonry and the resulting increase in membership in the Feilding area resulted in the establishment of Lodges in the rural towns of  Kimbolton, and Rongotea and later Apiti. As the century progressed into the 1920s the numbers of Freemasons in Feilding continued to grow.  At that time membership had grown to such an extent it was felt a second lodge in the Feilding township was needed. It was decided to open a new lodge and call it Lodge Manchester. Lodge Manchester's name is derived from the settler's days when the area was known as the Manchester Block, and the town was thought by some to be laid out like the city of Manchester in England.

Lodge Manchester was Consecrated and Dedicated on the 18th May 1927, by Most Worshipful Brother General Sir Charles Fergusson G. M. and Grand Lodge officers. The first Master, W. Bro. Brewer, was installed and his officers invested by Right Worshipful Brother A. G. Graham, Provincial Grand Master of the Ruapehu District on the same evening. The refectory must have been a sumptuous affair having cost ₤72. 10 for the evening. This amount would be the equivalent today of approximately $5, 000! The first regular meeting of Lodge Manchester was held on 28th June 1927.

Lodge Manchester No. 287, together with The Kimbolton Lodge No. 123, Lodge Rongotea No. 146, and the now defunct Lodge Oroua No 215 are the daughter Lodges of the Feilding Lodge No. 41, which is in turn the daughter Lodge of the United Manawatu Lodge No. 1721 E. C.  As you can see the Feilding district has a rich Masonic history. If one looks at the Lodge rooms honours board a number of the names of previous masters also appear prominantly in the history of the town and surrounding districts.

The building where  Lodge Manchester meets  is also the home to the Feilding Lodge. This is at 21 Kimbolton Road which  is situated at the South end of Kimbolton Road Feilding. In 1897 a section was purchased by the Feilding Lodge and a contract let for constructing the building for, at that time, the princely sum of ₤415. The Lodge rooms has been well maintained over the years and is one of the last left in the country with an Edwardian facade. The architectural and histroical significance of the building alone makes it worth visiting. When you couple this with the friendliness and hospitality of the members then a vist to Lodge Manchester No 287 is something that no Masonic traveller to the district should miss.

The photos at the top of the page are:  our first Master WBro E H N Brewer, and MWBro Ashby a member who was the Grand Master of New Zealand 1979/80. The photo of the lodge members was taken in the year 2000.