Knights Templar

The Great Priory of the United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders
of the Temple and of St. John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta
of England and Wales and its Provinces Overseas

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KT Clement 300According to legend, the Knights Templar was founded in 1118 AD to protect pilgrims heading for Jerusalem and the Christian Holy places, where the small band of warrior monks established a headquarters. In the year 1118 AD King Baldwin II granted the Templars quarters on the Temple Mount and this forms the link to the Royal Arch.

Many men, of noble birth, joined the ranks of the Templar Order. Those who were unable to join often gifted the Templars with land and other valuables.
Modern Masonic association with these medieval defenders of the Christian Holy places is linked by the ceremony of Installation in which the Candidate takes the part of a Pilgrim who, by symbolically embarking on a Crusade, is elevated to Knighthood.

The earliest reference to modern Masonic Knight Templar activity in England can be found in the minutes of the Chapter of Friendship (Royal Arch) in Portsmouth, dated 1778, where it was worked as an Appendant Degree. In 1791 a Grand Conclave was formed comprising seven ‘Encampments’ with Thomas Dunckerley as Grand Master. By 1873 ‘Grand Conclave’ was now known as ‘Great Priory’, and ‘Encampments’ were now known as ‘Preceptories’.

The ceremony is very realistic and the regalia spectacular, based upon that worn by the Medieval Knights.

Prospective Candidates must be a Master Mason, a Royal Arch Mason and Christian.

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Nottingham has a proud and ancient history dating back to the time of the Knights Templar and beyond. So, it was a fitting location for the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master, Paul Raymond Clement, G.C.T., to Install the new Provincial Prior for Nottinghamshire, Right Eminent Knight David James “Jim” Crossley.

The occasion was particularly special as he and his new Provincial Sub-Prior, Eminent Knight Ronald John Wimbleton, P.Gt.A-de-C., were also joined by the immediate Past Provincial Prior , now the Very High and Right Eminent Great Seneschal, Andrew Christopher Rainbow, G.C.T.

As a memento of this auspicious occasion the Right Eminent Provincial Prior presented both distinguished guests with ceramic Bramley Apples, which originate in the Great Seneschal's home town of Southwell in Nottinghamshire, and the whole Installation Team were gifted with Oak Tree saplings to remind them of the "Major Oak", the tree in Sherwood Forest which, legend suggests, Robin Hood used for shelter and cover.

Very shortly the Province will celebrate its Golden Anniversary and we wish the Brother Knights of Nottinghamshire happiness and success for the next 50 years.

The Very High and Right Eminent Great Seneschal, Andrew Christopher Rainbow, G.C.T., The Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master, Paul Raymond Clement, G.C.T., Right Eminent Knight David James “Jim” Crossley, Prov.Prior and Eminent Knight Ronald John Wimbleton, P.Gt.A-de-C., Prov.Sub-Prior.

Rulers

M.E. & S.Kt. Paul R. Clement, G.C.T.
Grand Master

V.H. & R.E.Kt. Andrew C. Rainbow, G.C.T.
Great Seneschal

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Popular Downloads

KT - Membership Form
KT - Toast List 31Oct22
KT - Petitioner Application
KT Model By-Laws.doc
KT Model Provincial By-Laws - Aug 2017.doc
KT - Petition New Preceptory