The Holy Royal Arch – commonly known as ‘The Chapter’ – is an inclusive part of Craft Freemasonry.
In England and Wales there is an indissoluble link between Craft Freemasonry and the Royal Arch, with the Royal Arch being considered the completion of a Freemasons’ journey in “pure antient masonry”.
The origins of the Chapter go back to at least the first half of the eighteenth century but in its modern form emerged with the formation of the first Grand Chapter in 1817, following upon the merger of the then two Grand Lodges in 1813.