Miles Coverdale Lodge No. 5069 celebrated its 736th regular meeting in the spectacular underground setting of Torquay’s prehistoric caves at Kent's Cavern on 16th September 2022 for an evening to support the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF). The cavern is run by Nick Powe DL, Secretary of Miles Coverdale Lodge. Five generations of his family have been custodians of the prehistoric cavern since 1880.
The brethren were summoned to a regular meeting, attended by numbers of the Devonshire Provincial Executive, to open and close the Lodge in all three degrees, with the newest member James Frost receiving his Grand Lodge Certificate from Derek Webber. Once closed, the 50 or so brethren present enjoyed a relaxed meal and a tour of the caverns, to which potential candidates were invited to discover more about joining Freemasonry.
Peter Keaty said:
'I really enjoyed the evening and so did the Provincial Executive. It is a most unusual venue in which to hold a meeting, but one that works surprisingly well. Last time I was here was in 2016 when W Bro Nick was in the chair and Miles Coverdale celebrated their 700th meeting. This time round the evening raised funds for the MCF and I was delighted to see the Provincial Mentoring team using the evening to attract new members.'
Nick Powe:
'Another great evening for the Lodge in the cavern, a place with a long connection to sanctuary for humankind. And indeed personally, as my grandfather Leslie Powe, who ran the caves all his life, was a member of the Lodge of St. Mary No. 5148 in Torquay, but never had the chance to enjoy a ceremony under the stalactites.'
Kent's Cavern is Britain’s most valued prehistoric cave site with a geological heritage spanning 400 million years and a connection to the ancient human occupation of Britain going back 500,000 years.
The cave’s international reputation stems from pioneering work carried out by Victorian explorers whose recordings provided scientific proof for the antiquity of humankind. Ongoing research continues to reveal more about the prolific use of the cave by people and animals over time.
Kent's Cavern is the principal promoter of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, an international designation for Torbay’s geological heritage, especially associated with the Devonian limestones, from which the cave is formed. The caves are open daily for guided tours and located close to Anstey’s Cove, Agatha Christie’s favourite Torquay beach, and to Meadfoot beach where Charles Darwin had a home, both on the South West Coast Path.
