The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Care Company (RMBI Care Co.) cares for older Freemasons and their families as well as people in the wider community. Founded in 1842 by

Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (27 January 1773 – 21 April 1843), was the sixth son and ninth child of George III, King George III and his queen consort, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He was the only surviving son of George III ...

, they now provide a home for over 1,000 people across England and Wales, while also providing non-residential support services. The organisation's Head Office is based in Freemasons’ Hall in

Great Queen Street Great Queen Street is a street in the West End of central London in England. It is a continuation of Long Acre from Drury Lane to Kingsway. It runs from 1 to 44 along the north side, east to west, and 45 to about 80 along the south side, wes ...

along with the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

List of services

* Residential care * Nursing care * Residential dementia support * Limited sheltered accommodation for people who prefer to live independently * Respite breaks for people who are cared for in their own homes so that families can have a rest from taking care of a loved one

History of RMBI Care Co.

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Care Company started when

United Grand Lodge of England The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) is the governing Masonic lodge for the majority of freemasons in England, Wales, and the Commonwealth of Nations. Claiming descent from the Masonic Grand Lodge formed 24 June 1717 at the Goose & Gridiron ...

inaugurated the Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund for men in 1842 and the Female Annuity Fund in 1849. The following year, 1850, the first Home was opened in East Croydon named the "Asylum for Worthy, Aged and Decayed Freemasons", and The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI) was established. The Home remained in Croydon for over 100 years until 1955, when, due to the need for bigger premises, the Home was transferred to Harewood Court in Hove,

East Sussex East Sussex is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Kent to the north-east, West Sussex to the west, Surrey to the north-west, and the English Channel to the south. The largest settlement ...

.John Hamill, ''And the greatest of these is charity: the development of Masonic charity'' (London:1993) In the early 1960s, provision was extended to non-annuitants and, between 1960 and 1985, a further 14 Homes were set up or acquired around England and Wales. Four more Homes have been opened since then bringing the number of Homes run by RMBI Care Co. to 18.

Homes and opening dates

1966 Devonshire Court, Oadby, Leicestershire
1967 Scarbrough Court, Cramlington, Northumberland
1968 Prince George Duke of Kent Court, Chislehurst, Kent
1971 Connaught Court, Fulford, York
1973 Lord Harris Court, Sindlesham, Berkshire
1973 Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court, Porthcawl,

Mid Glamorgan Mid Glamorgan () is a preserved county of Wales. From 1974 until 1996 it was also an administrative county with a county council. Mid Glamorgan was formed in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It consisted of part of the former adminis ...

1977 Ecclesholme, Eccles, Salford
1977 The Tithebarn,

Great Crosby Great Crosby is an area of the town of Crosby, in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England and is historically, part of Lancashire. Location In 1907, the Victoria County History described Great Crosby's location thus: 'The a ...

, Liverpool
1979 Queen Elizabeth Court, Llandudno, Conwy
1980 James Terry Court,

Croydon, Surrey Croydon is a large town in South London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a local government district of Greater London; it is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater London, with an extensive ...

1981 Cornwallis Court,

Bury St. Edmunds Bury St Edmunds (), commonly referred to locally as ''Bury,'' is a cathedral as well as market town and civil parish in the West Suffolk district, in the county of Suffolk, England.OS Explorer map 211: Bury St. Edmunds and Stowmarket Scale: . P ...

, Suffolk
1983 Zetland Court, Bournemouth, Dorset
1985 Cadogan Court, Exeter, South Devon
1994 Prince Michael of Kent Court, Watford, Hertfordshire
1995 Shannon Court, Hindhead, Surrey
1996 Barford Court, Hove, East Sussex
1998 Prince Edward Duke of Kent Court,

Braintree, Essex Braintree is a town in Essex, England, and is the principal settlement of Braintree District. It is located north-east of Chelmsford, west of Colchester and north-west of Southend-on-Sea. According to the United Kingdom Census 2021, 2021 Cens ...

2008 Scarbrough Court, Cramlington, Northumberland (re-built on the original site)

External links

References

{{UGLE Masonic organizations Freemasonry in England