Members of the Wilberforce Lodge No. 2134 initiated the founding of the Wilberforce Royal Arch Chapter on the 9th. July, 1889, voting in favour of a motion signing a petition for submission to Supreme Grand Chapter.

Following approval of the grant of a Warrant authorising a Royal Arch Chapter be attached to the Wilberforce Lodge No. 2134, Companion T.T.Davis who was installed as the first Worshipful Master of the Wilberforce Lodge at its Consecration in 1886, was named as Most Excellent Zerubbabel. Companion J.Mackaill was named as Excellent Companion Haggai; and Companion W.Woodhall as Excellent Companion Joshua.

The Chapter was Constituted and Consecrated on the 28th. February, 1890.

Over the years, the frequency of meetings has been subjected to many changes. A significant change was also made in 1897, when the Chapter, following the example of the Craft, abandoned its Temperance principles.

In 1916, the Lodge moved from its premises in St. Luke Street to the new Masonic Hall in Osbourne Street, which was owned by the De La Pole Lodge, No. 1605. This move resulted in the Chapter’s Standards being surplus to requirements, and these were sold to the Sykes Chapter No. 1040 Driffield, for the sum of £5, in December, 1917.

On the 9th. May, 1941, enemy action destroyed the Masonic Hall in Osbourne Street, and as a consequence, the Chapter met, by Dispensation, at the Minerva Lodge’s Masonic Hall in Dagger Lane, until the premises at 69 Beverley Road were acquired in 1947. The new Masonic Temple was dedicated on the 16th. September, 1947, and the Chapter met in its new accommodation for the first time on the 28th. October, 1947.

The Wilberforce Chapter is one of a limited number who work the “Humber Ritual”. The Chapter adopted this ritual on its foundation, and its members are proud of its sincerity and beauty as practises by them. Within the latest edition of the ritual book, is information on the first edition, edited by Llewellyn Kitchen in 1923.