On Monday 17th April 1948, a meeting of all the Past Masters of St. John’s Lodge No.279, together with the Wardens of the Lodge, was summoned to consider the formation of a new Lodge. At the time there were some 150 members of St John’s and there was little chance of all brethren being able to take office in their lifetime, a forty year wait being indicated! At that meeting seven brethren agreed to become Founders. The Newarke Lodge became the 35th Lodge within the Leicestershire and Rutland Province. The consecration was held on the 18th May 1949. Many of the founders had attended The Newarke School. Its name linked the Lodge to the historical past of Leicester. The name Newarke was a corruption of “New Werke” the enclosure built over six hundred years ago by the third Earl of Leicester, containing a hospital built in 1331 and a church which became the Collegiate Church of the Newarke.

The first Worshipful Master was W.Bro. Leonard Wright Harvey and there were three candidates during the Lodge’s first year 1949-1950. In December 1949 six joining members were admitted, one of those six, W.Bro. Don Letts, being in 2009 the oldest member. The goblets which are used by the Worshipful Master and Wardens were donated by members of the Lodge. There have been a number of father and son connections. The 50th Anniversary of the Lodge took place on the 18th May 1999, under the direction of W.Bro.Stephen Riley.

A dispensation had been requested and granted to allow the Lodge celebrations to take place on the exact date of the consecration of the Lodge – 18th May. Other than the connection of attending the Newarke School, the Founders of the Lodge came from a cross section of professions which has continued today.