The Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia was founded in London by Frater Robert Wentworth Little in 1867, during the rich and vibrant esoteric revival that coloured much of the Victorian philosophical era.
The aim of the founders was
“to afford mutual aid and encouragement in working out the great problems of Life, and in searching out the secrets of Nature; to facilitate the study of the system of philosophy founded upon the Kabalah, and the doctrines of Hermes Trismegistus, which was inculcated by the original Fratres Rosae-Crucis of Germany, A.D. 1450; and to investigate the meaning and symbolism of all that now remains of the wisdom, art and literature of the ancient world."
With such an evocative and interesting undertaking, the Society has grown from small mysterious acorns to an international Rosicrucian network of study, with branches across the globe.
From the mid-19th century through to the 21st century, London has remained as an active and vibrant Rosicrucian community, and an intricate part of the greater Society. In 2020, Greater London was formalised as a Province of the Society with its own administrative structures and identity that sits separate from the broader focus of the High Council of the SRIA and its Supreme Magus and other senior officers.
Today, we have two colleges that meet within the Province of London: Metropolitan College No. 1 is the founding college of the S.R.I.A., which operates without a warrant; alongside the London College of Adepts No. 13. It is the only college in the society for Adept members only and conducts grade II, III, and IV by permission of the Metropolitan College Celebrant.
In addition to these two colleges, the Province has several ongoing aspects to its work, all of which are open to and encouraged with participation of non members.
We currently publish a bi-annual Rosicrucian pamphlet, which focuses on the theme of ‘living Rosicrucianism’, and how we can assimilate and utilise these teachings into our everyday lives.
The Province also hosts an annual ‘Rosicrucian Salon’, using the creative arts and expression as aspects of the Great Work.
The Metropolitan Study Group, that meets on the third Saturday of every month, (except August), is the most regular, popular and enjoyable aspect of the Metropolitan College’s members work. The Study Group has been meeting for approximately 100 years, and is an open forum for opinions, debate and discussion on almost every aspect of esoteric, philosophical and metaphysical subject matter.
Please feel free to explore our website. It contains several interesting and illuminating slices of Metropolitan history, along with past publications and transactions, and dates for upcoming events.