Dames, Sir Knights, ladies and gentlemen. First of all it is my duty and
pleasure to thank the Grand Master, H.E. The Chevalier Howard Doe and
his Officers for
travelling some considerable distance to be here today and for the most
professional manner in which they have performed the consecration ceremony.
For those
of us who are in other orders of chivalry it has been interesting to
note the similarities
with other consecrations. The Officers assisting the Grand Master today
were:- The Chevalier Keith Ansell, Grand Chancellor; The Chevalier Ken
Chopard, Grand Marshal; Dame Patti Ansell, Acting Deputy Grand Marshal;
The Chevalier
Len Feist,
Acting Grand Banner Bearer; The Chevalier Charles Holloway, Grand Sword
Bearer;
Dame Rosalie Chopard, Acting Grand Cross Bearer.
It is with the greatest of pleasure that I would like to demonstrate
our gratitude by suggesting to the founder members that we offer to the
Grand
Master and
his Officers, honorary membership of The Lancastrian Conclave of St.
Martin at Sées
and trust they will accept.
The Healing, Teaching and Chivalric Order of St. Raphael is a stateless
International Order of Chivalry and it is also an ecumenical order and
I am very proud
of the fact that even at this early stage between the founder members
- there are eleven
of us three facets of Christianity are represented; the Church of England,
the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Independent Communion.
There is no significance whatsoever in the fact that this consecration
has taken place in a Freemasons Temple. In attempting to acquire suitable
accommodation
for today I travelled up and down the M6 motorway corridor calling at
conference centres and hotels and in all cases they required in the region
of £200
for the hire of a room for the day. As a newly formed conclave and as yet without
a bank account, that sort of payment was out of the question. This meeting
place was offered free of charge, providing we ordered a reasonable buffet.
As you
can imagine it took very little consideration to choose this venue.
The Consecrating Officers, founder members, guests and friends today
total 25 and I am very grateful for all your support. I am especially
pleased
to give
a warm welcome as guests today to The Chevalier Geoffrey Thompson, OBE.,LLD.,DL.,GCLJ.,
who is to be the primus Commander of the new Cumbrian Commandery of The
Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem (Paris Obedience)
and also
his wife Irene.
It now gives me considerable satisfaction to appoint the first Officers
of the new Lancastrian Conclave of St. Martin at Sées which is named after
the Benedictine monks who came to Lancashire from Normandy in I094A.D. and
founded
the Priory of Lancaster.
I appoint as the first Chaplain of the conclave, the Rt. Rev'd Norman
Dutton of Timperley, Cheshire. Norman is the Presiding Bishop in the
British Isles
and Europe of the Anglican Independent Communion and Spiritual Protector
and Grand
Prior of the Military and Religious Order of St. Cornelius the Centurion.
I am confident in my facts when I say that one of Norman's main hobbies
is his grandchildren.
I appoint as the first Vice Chancellor of the conclave, Commander Dianne
Uttley of Lancaster. Dianne is a retired Local Government Officer who
worked in the
Surveyor's Dept. of Lancashire County Council. I would like to thank
her for the excellent cake which she has baked and decorated with the
cross
of the Order
for this auspicious occasion
I appoint as the first Marshal of the conclave Commander Alan Blackstone
of Stockton Heath, Warrington. Alan is a retired Civil Servant. He retired
this
year after
42 years service and attended the Queen's Royal Jubilee Garden Party
on the 9th July. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Business Administration
and
an Associate
of the British Institute of Management.
I appoint as the first Deacon of the conclave The Chevalier David Hallam
of Leyland, Lancashire. David received an Honours Degree in Biophysics
at the University
of Manchester and is a Fellow of the Institute of Biophysics of the University
of Belgrade.
I appoint as the first Treasurer of the conclave Commander David Pestell
of Bury, Lancashire. David worked in the gas industry and is a retired
Senior Auditor.
He is to be ordained as a priest within the Anglican Independent Communion
on I4th September this year.
I appoint as the first Deputy Marshal of the conclave Commander David
Haywood of Bury, Lancashire. David is a computer trainer and a Fellow
of the Institute
of I.T. Training. He is a Serving Brother in the Order of St. John and
a Member Companion in the Order of St. Lazarus (Malta Obedience).
I appoint as the first Lecturer of the conclave Commander Julie Woolley
of Middleton, Manchester. Julie is a Principal Health and Safety Advisor.
She
is a former County
Nursing Officer and was for 25 years a member and officer of St. John
Ambulance. She is a Serving Sister in the Order of St. John and a Member
Companion
in the Order of St. Lazarus (Malta Obedience).
I appoint as the first Sword Bearer of the conclave Commander Maurice
Mehers of Farnworth, Bolton, Lancashire. Maurice is a retired Nursing
Officer.
He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Legion of Frontiersmen and is the Grand
Prior
of
the Scottish Knights Templar in England.
I appoint as the first Standard Bearer of the conclave Commander Amold
Baker, Lord of Barton, from Cresswell, Northumberland. Arnold is a Knight
of The
Military Order of the Golden Chain and a Freeman of the City of London.
I appoint as the first Captain of the Guard Commander Edward (Ted) Woolley
of Middleton, Manchester. Ted is a Community Nurse and between I990 -
200I was the
Area Commissioner for St. John Ambulance. He is an Officer in the Order
of St. John, and a Member Companion in the Order of St. Lazarus (Malta
Obedience).
That concludes the appointment of the first Officers of The Lancastrian
Conclave of St. Martin at Sées. The calibre of the first Officers of this conclave
is quite astounding and I am sure we will all work together as a team for the
greater glory of Christianity. . Personally, I am looking forward to working
towards the aims and objectives of the conclave and the Order which is to aid
the cure of those who are sick through prayer, the preservation and extension
of knowledge by organising talks and, by virtue of our Charter, granted by
the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order of the Levant, to promote good.
For your information, the fun we have had guessing the weight of the
St. Raphael cake has raised £38 which will be used for the administration of the
conclave. Thank you all for your attendance and support.
The Chevalier Barry Uttley, K.C.S.R.,K.S.M., Commander