Lodge Mother Kilwinning

Lodge Mother Kilwinning stands in the town of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, as the reputed oldest Masonic Lodge in the world. It holds number 0 on the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and is often called Mother Kilwinning. The lodge traces its origins to the 12th century, though no existing evidence confirms this claim. In 1599, William Schaw’s Second Schaw Statutes required the warden of the lodge to examine members in memory and craft. By the reign of James VII, the lodge began granting warrants for new lodges across Scotland and beyond.

The lodge’s history includes a notable role in early Freemasonry. In 1677, it granted the first known charter to Canongate Kilwinning. In 1736, it became a founding member of the Grand Lodge of Scotland but later seceded in 1807 after disputes over its seniority. Tradition once held that the Master of Mother Kilwinning also served as Provincial Grand Master of Ayrshire. In 1983, the lodge became directly subordinate to its own Provincial Grand Lodge, sending a representative as Grand Bible Bearer to the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

Visitors to the lodge find a museum displaying Masonic artefacts such as medals, seals, and documents. The historic lodge building itself can also be toured. The lodge awards the three degrees of Craft Freemasonry: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. It also confers the Order of Mark Masons Degree, a Scottish tradition completed after the Master Mason degree. Arrangements must be made in advance for museum visits.