From Nienburg to Hannover – 50 Years of Brotherhood Across Borders
Founded in 1973 amidst the community of the British Army of the Rhine, Lodge Bridge of Fellowship No. 929 has, for over half a century, exemplified the principles of brotherhood, tolerance, and continuity. From its beginnings in Nienburg upon Weser to its present home in Hannover, the Lodge has reflected the strong ties between British and German Freemasonry. Through times of change, relocation, and renewal, it has remained true to its name — a lasting bridge of fellowship linking Brethren of many nations, languages, and traditions.
The First 50 Years
The idea of forming a Lodge in Nienburg emerged following the establishment of The Rose of Minden Lodge No. 918 GC and was first proposed in 1973. Several founding members of our Lodge were also members of that Lodge, including the first Worshipful Master, Mike Darby; the first Chaplain, Barney Greengrass; the first Junior Warden, Archie Forsyth; and the first Director of Ceremonies, Bob Penman. The first Junior Deacon, Alex Hannah, was affiliated with Saxony Lodge No. 842 GC in Celle. These founding members came from the English, German, and Scottish Constitutions. The most distinguished among them was RW Bro J. G. Chapman, then Grand Master of the Grand Land Lodge of British Freemasonry in Germany (GLL BFG).
Each founder contributed a fee of DM 250 at a time when most British expatriates in Germany still calculated their expenses in pounds sterling. This is confirmed in a letter to the founders sent by Capt. S. Huggett, Secretary of the Convening Committee and the first Secretary of the Lodge. Capt. J. F. Kemp REME served as Treasurer both during the Convening Committee phase and in the Lodge’s first year.
The Consecration took place on Saturday, 1 December 1973, at the New School (British) in Nienburg, Ziegelkampstraße. According to the Consecration Summons, the Lodge was initially named The Bridge of Fellowship Lodge, though it has since been known as Lodge Bridge of Fellowship.
The Lodge’s first “year” was particularly short, as the Installation of the new Master took place in March 1974. In its early years, like many new Lodges in Germany, it faced challenges but received ongoing support from The Rose of Minden Lodge and, even more so, from Saxony Lodge in Celle. Just as in the present day, members were often uncertain which office or piece of ritual work they would be asked to perform. As the last remaining resident founding member, Bro A. Hannah, recalled in 1995, they practically slept with the ritual book in their hands—or under their pillows.
During its years in Nienburg, Lodge Bridge of Fellowship shared premises with the local German Lodge Georg zum Silbernen Einhorn No. 257 (consecrated 1815). Until 1975, both Lodges met in a two-storey villa in Wilhelmstraße, where the temple was on the ground floor and the preparation room and kitchen were in the basement. A letter from WBro Hannah suggests that, at the time, the Lodge had an appointed Tyler who resided in the villa and prepared the Festive Board in the basement kitchen.
From 1975 to sometime in 1976, the Lodge met temporarily at the Restaurant Bürgerhalle at Schützenplatz before relocating to Neue Straße. There, a Brother of the German Lodge, Uwe Pera, an architect, renovated a ground-floor apartment and a cellar room for Masonic use. The temple, which had no windows, was entirely lined with blue cloth and served until 1988. Since then, Lodge Bridge of Fellowship and its Sister Lodge have met in the Karl-Bredemeyer-Haus in a specially renovated second-floor apartment.
Lodge members are scattered primarily across the Elbe-Weser-Leine-Aller region, from Bielefeld to Celle and from Hamburg to Salzgitter. Over its 50-year history, the Lodge has had 29 Worshipful Masters, the majority of whom have been British, though several are German nationals and one is Norwegian. The number 29 indicates that several Past Masters have served more than one term, a pattern shared by both British and German Brethren.
The Lodge is especially honoured that the late Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of British Freemasonry in Germany, MW Bro R. Davies OBE, joined as a member in 1979/80. Three of the founding members served as Master, and the first German to hold this office was WBro Hans-Werner Holz in 1987/88, who had previously been Master of Georg zum Silbernen Einhorn. The second was WBro LtCol (Res) Wolfgang Schneider, the first German to be initiated into our Lodge.
In the early 2000s, while the Lodge continued its tradition of fellowship, there were significant milestones for two of its members. Bro Frederick Colbran was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of British Freemasonry in Germany, and Bro “Shiny” McKinnon was later appointed Assistant Grand Master of the same Grand Lodge. These distinguished appointments reflect the Lodge’s pride in its members’ accomplishments and underscore the fraternal success of its Brethren within the broader Masonic community.
The end of the Cold War brought significant changes, impacting the Lodge considerably. With the reduction of British troops in Lower Saxony, the Lodge faced difficult times. However, relocating to Hannover proved to be a wise decision, leading to an increase in both Candidates and Joining Members. The first meeting at the new premises at Heiligengeiststraße 1 in Hannover in January 1998 was attended by 22 Brethren, and the Installation Meeting later that year saw over 60 in attendance. The final year in Nienburg and the early years in Hannover saw rapid advancement — some initiates progressed from Initiation to Raising in under a year, the record being from February to June 1997.
During the early 2000s, the Lodge experienced challenging times, including a period of suspension by Grand Lodge BFG. After the Warrant was restored in August 2008, membership had declined, and the Lodge had to rebuild from scratch. With low membership, income from annual dues was limited, leading to financial difficulties.
Additionally, dissatisfaction grew regarding the value for money of the Festive Boards. WBro LtCol (Res) Wolfgang Schneider, a German reserve officer and member of the German officers’ mess, proposed moving meetings to the mess hall to reduce rental costs. This move significantly improved the Lodge’s financial situation, providing an affordable and satisfactory three-course meal.
For a time, membership increased through new initiations. However, later building restrictions at the premises led to a loss of storage space. During this period, the Lodge Crest was modified and coloured, aligning it more closely with heraldic tradition.
The COVID-19 pandemic further affected Lodge activities, with in-person meetings suspended for an extended period. Virtual meetings became the norm, leading to decreased participation. Personal challenges during this stressful time resulted in some Brethren retiring from the Lodge, while others either found new opportunities elsewhere or returned to the UK.
Today, 20 Brethren still reside in Germany — some as far away as Frankfurt and Hamburg — with six in the UK, one in Poland, one in the USA, and one in the Philippines.
Due to staffing shortages in the German Army mess and subsequent restrictions on its use, the Lodge decided to move to the Logenhaus Lemförder Straße in Hannover. Initially, meetings were held on Saturday afternoons, but this proved inconvenient for some Brethren, leading to a shift to Wednesday evenings, now the permanent meeting day.
Among the Founder Members, three hold Past Grand Rank in the Grand Lodge or Grand Land Lodge of BFG. Five Past Masters (including one Founder Member) also hold Past Grand Rank. Grand Rank or Past Grand Rank is not uncommon among Lodge members.
Three Past Masters have been honoured in the UK for their services to Her Majesty and the Nation: one was awarded an OBE, and two were appointed MBE. Additionally, a Brother now residing in the Philippines was also awarded an MBE before emigrating.
Regarding the Lodge Arms, it is noteworthy that the beasts flanking the compasses derive from the British Royal Arms, with the Unicorn representing Scotland and the Lion representing England. This may symbolise the two UK Mother Constitutions of many Founder Members. The Unicorn also signifies the close fraternal relationship with Georg zum Silbernen Einhorn No. 257 in Nienburg, with whom the Lodge shared Masonic Rooms for many years. The bridge in the emblem likely represents both the Lodge’s name and its historical location in Nienburg upon Weser. The handshake symbolises Masonic fraternity, reinforcing the idea that Freemasonry bridges all divisions of caste, creed, race, and nationality, making it a truly universal fellowship.
The author is deeply grateful to the late WBro A. Hannah (Founder) and the late WBro Prof. H.-W. Holz (Past Master) for their contributions to the Lodge’s history up to 1995. Special thanks are also due to WBro Steven Young, PPGJD Cambridgeshire (Founder), for verifying the accuracy of this account.
Compiled on 5 January 2024 by WBro LtCol (Res) Wolfgang Schneider, PGDC.
Looking Ahead – The Next 50 Years
As Lodge Bridge of Fellowship No. 929 moves beyond its first half-century, we do so with gratitude for the work and dedication of those who came before us. Their perseverance built the foundations upon which we stand today.
Our mission remains unchanged: to promote friendship, moral integrity, and understanding among men of good will, regardless of nationality, language, or belief. In an age of constant change, our Lodge continues to serve as a meeting place where tradition and renewal coexist, and where Freemasons from around the world find a warm welcome.
Drawing on our British heritage, our German home, and our truly international membership, we look to the future with confidence — determined to ensure that the Bridge of Fellowship remains strong, open, and enduring for generations yet to come.