Freemasonry is one of the oldest established organisations in Barbados

Barbados

Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...

. As a fraternal organisation, Freemasonry was introduced to the island in 1740 by Alexander Irvine (c. 1694-1743). The first lodge formed was the St. Michael's Lodge No. 94. or No. 186 however, this lodge ceased in the nineteenth century. Following the closure of this lodge, the Albion Lodge No. 196 E R, (formed in 1790), now remains as the longest serving lodge in Barbados. Several of the other lodges in the country are under various lodges including the United Grand Lodge of England

United Grand Lodge of England

The United Grand Lodge of England is the main governing body of freemasonry within England and Wales and in other, predominantly ex-British Empire and Commonwealth countries outside the United Kingdom. It is the oldest Grand Lodge in the world, deriving its origin from 1717...

, the Grand Lodge of Scotland

Grand Lodge of Scotland

The Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland was founded in 1736 – although only a third of all lodges were represented at the foundation meeting of the Grand Lodge....

, the Prince Hall Masons

Prince Hall Freemasonry

Prince Hall Freemasonry derives from historical events which led to a tradition of separate predominantly African-American Freemasonry in North America...

, and the Ethiopian Mystic Masons. The St. Michael's churchyard

Churchyard

A churchyard is a patch of land adjoining or surrounding a church which is usually owned by the relevant church or local parish itself. In the Scots language or Northern English language this can also be known as a kirkyard or kirkyaird....

 which contains a vault

Burial vault (tomb)

A burial vault is a structural underground tomb.It is a stone or brick-lined underground space or 'burial' chamber for the interment of a dead body or bodies. They were originally and are still often vaulted and usually have stone slab entrances...

where Irvine is entombed has continued to be used by the Barbadian Masonic community.