District Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Down

News 2026

District Grand Chapter’s aim is to continue to provide an effective and efficient service support to all the Chapters within Down District. To this end, please ensure that all correspondence is sent to the following email address office@dgracdown.org.uk

The District Grand Chapter office at Galwally House will not be open on a Wednesday morning with immediate effect. The Office will be open 10.00hrs – 12.30hrs on Friday mornings. Closed July, August, Christmas/New Year & Bank Holidays.

On Saturday 20th June 2026, St. Patrick’s RAC 77 held a special convocation to celebrate RE Comp Rev. Charles McCurdy reaching 60 years in Royal Arch Masonry. The Supreme Grand King, ME Comp Neil Coey, and District Grand King, ME Comp Roy Humphries, were in attendance to present RE Comp McCurdy with his 60 year certificate.
RAC 77
Visitors and members

On Saturday 20th June 2026, St. Patrick’s RAC 77 held a special convocation to celebrate RE Comp Rev. Charles McCurdy reaching 60 years in Royal Arch Masonry. The Supreme Grand King, ME Comp Neil Coey, and District Grand King, ME Comp Roy Humphries, were in attendance to present RE Comp McCurdy with his 60 year certificate.
Rev. Charles was initiated into Craft Masonry in Royal Ulster Lodge No 274 in the Province of Antrim on 1st April 1963 and subsequently exalted to Royal Ulster Chapter 274 on 16th September 1966, serving as Excellent King in 1975.
He affiliated to St. Patrick’s Chapter 77 on 8th March 1976, serving as Chaplain from 1977 to 2022, with a year as Excellent King in 2007.
He was appointed District Grand Chaplain at the DGRAC Down in 1979, serving until 2022.
He was Foreign Representative for Grand Chapter of Wisconsin from1990 to 1999, and during that period was also appointed Grand Chaplain at SGRAC Ireland in 1992, serving in that office until 2016.
He is also a founder member of Kingdom of Down Installed Kings Chapter 79 which was constituted on 25th January 2023.
His distinguished Masonic career continued through Craft, Council of Knight Masons, High Knight Templar, Rose Croix and the Higher Degrees. 
He held office as Chaplain in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Down and Provincial Grand Lodge of Armagh, Grand Chaplain in the Grand Lodge of Ireland, Grand Priest to Grand Council of Knight Masons, Prelate at Provincial Priory of South Ulster as well as in East Ulster, and Great Prelate at the Great Priory of Ireland.  He also served as Grand Chaplain in the Grand Chapter of Prince Masons and has risen to the rank of 32° in the Higher Degrees which signifies the esteem he is held within Masonry in Ireland.

Prior to the June meeting of District Grand RAC Down, in Lisburn Masonic Centre, a cheque for £1000 was presented to a representative from "Friends of the Cancer Centre" The meeting was attended by over 200 Companions including distinguished Companions from Antrim, Armagh, and L,D,T,& F.
Photo taken at RAC 170 Installation, February 2026.
A lifetime of service continues for VEC Arthur G Kerrigan. The Installation of officers for RAC 124 (founded 1830) took place last night in Banbridge in the company of distinguished guests and visitors. REC David Hanna DDGK of DGRAC of Down assisted EC George Hughes by presenting VEC Arthur G Kerrigan with an engraved Crystal Decanter and glasses to recognise "Artie's" exemplary service to the Chapter. Over the past 40 years Artie occupied an office in the Chapter, including most recently as Registrar for 13 years until he stepped down last night, only to retake the Chapter Treasurer role for the second time!!
Cottown RAC 430 Bangor, held their installation last night. EK Stewart Jarvis was installed by V Ec Comp Chris MP McCullough. Distinguished guests included the Most Excellent & Supreme Grand King M E Comp Neil Coey, District Grand King of Down M E Comp Roy Humphries and Chapter Inspector V Ex Comp Ken Lindsay.
Cottown RAC 430 Bangor, held their installation last night. EK Stewart Jarvis was installed by V Ec Comp Chris MP McCullough. Distinguished guests included the Most Excellent & Supreme Grand King M E Comp Neil Coey, District Grand King of Down M E Comp Roy Humphries and Chapter Inspector V Ex Comp Ken Lindsay.

Cottown RAC 430 Bangor, held their installation last night. EK Stewart Jarvis was installed by V Ec Comp Chris MP McCullough. Distinguished guests included the Most Excellent & Supreme Grand King M E Comp Neil Coey, District Grand King of Down M E Comp Roy Humphries and Chapter Inspector V Ex Comp Ken Lindsay.

Presenation of certificate at the 2026 Installation Convocation of Seaforde RAC 1009 held on Monday 16th February 2026 in Newcastle.
2026 Installation Convocation of Seaforde RAC 1009 held on Monday 16th February 2026 in the Masonic Hall, Newcastle, Co Down.
W/Brother Stephen Arnold (W/ Master) of Friendship Masonic Lodge No 447 along with Very Excellent Companion Harry Thompson of Friendship Royal Arch Chapter No 447 (Director of Ceremonies) presenting a Cheque for £300.00 to Louise representing the Alzheimer’s Society. This came about when Stephen and Harry were visiting a long-term patient in Grant House, Ards Community Hospital, Newtownards. Rebekah Kernohan (left) was collecting for Alzheimer’s Society. Stephen and Harry went back to the Lodge and Chapter and put a case forward for the Society as the lodge and Chapter donate yearly to various outside Charities. Harry and Rebekah also completed the Walk for the Society.
Also, Stephen’s partner Roberta Jordan baked a cake and presented it to Rebekah who distributed it amongst the staff and patients.
Maurice Hanna (Excellent King) and Michael Curran (High Priest) from Royal Arch Chapter 35, Saintfield present a cheque for £200 to Lawrence Murphy and Vivien Lovell representing Saintfield Greens Committee as part of their ongoing commitment to support local community organisations. Saintfield Greens Committee achieved first place in the Ulster in Bloom 2025 competition in the Large Village the donation will go towards continuing efforts in growing flowers to make Saintfield beautiful.
Maurice Hanna (Excellent King) from Royal Arch Chapter 35, Saintfield present a cheque for £200 to Anne Murdock, Suicide Down to Zero to support their efforts to create greater awareness locally of the causes of suicide and to ensure that warning signs are acted upon.
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Slides from the latest Health & Wellbeing sessions.

21st October
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Health and Wellbeing Event held on Tuesday 21st October in Galwally House.
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Health and Wellbeing event held on Tuesday 21st October in Galwally House.

Selection of photos taken at the Health and Wellbeing event held in Galwally House on Tuesday 21st October 2025.