The Church said it had “significant concerns” about the presence of the secretive organisation after more than ten Anglican cathedrals hosted special services for Masonic lodges.
The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), which has more than 200,000 members, marked its 300th anniversary last year.
Speaking at the Church’s General Synod meeting, the Bishop of Coventry flagged up a 1987 report issued by the church that highlighted a “number of very fundamental reasons to question the compatibility of Freemasonry and Christianity”.
The Rt Rev Dr Christopher Cocksworth responded to a question tabled on the second day of the three-day meeting in London of the Church’s governing body.
Canterbury, Winchester, Salisbury, Manchester, Truro, Wells, Lincoln, Exeter, Chester, Leicester and Peterborough cathedrals all hosted Freemasons in 2017.
According to West Kent Masons, the Canterbury service last February was prepared in conjunction with the Very Rev Dr Robert Willis, the dean of Canterbury Cathedral, who also delivered the sermon.
Lambeth Palace confirmed that the Archbishop of Canterbury was not, and had never been, a Freemason.
His predecessor, Rowan Williams said Christianity and Freemasonry were “incompatible” and refused to appoint clergymen to senior posts if they were known to be members of the group.
However, in 2011 he sparked controversy after appointing a known…
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