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The Order of
the Temple of Jerusalem and the Industrial Temple |
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The Order of the
Temple of Jerusalem and the Industrial Temple is a chivalric
association of Christians who take their inspiration from the
highest ideals of the medieval Order of Knights Templar. That
Order was founded
by Hugh de Payens in Jerusalem around 1119 in order to protect
pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land. |
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The Medieval
Order The Knights Templar were given Papal recognition at the Council of Troyes in 1128. At the request of King Baldwin II of Jerusalem, St Bernard of Clairvaux, the great Cistercian abbot, directed the formulation of the Rule of the Templars. He also wrote for Hugh the letter “In Praise of the New Knighthood”, highlighting the blending within the Order of monastic contemplation and military action. He emphasised the need for simplicity and discipline in the pursuit of perfection. The medieval Knights Templar thus became the model for later orders of chivalry. Pope Honorius II granted the Templars their white cloak, symbolising purity of intent, in 1128; and Pope Eugenius III accorded them the eight-pointed red cross, as a symbol of personal sacrifice, in 1147. From Hungary to Portugal, the fame of the Knights Templar brought the Order gifts of large estates to finance their work in the Holy Land. The Temple Church in London was consecrated in 1185 by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem as part of the Order’s headquarters in England. The Templars became influential and sought-after advisors on finance and diplomacy throughout the royal and ecclesiastical courts of Europe. This power, however, led to the downfall of the medieval Order. After the conquest of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem by Muslim forces in 1291, King Philip of France became envious of the Templars’ wealth and fearful of how the they might use their power. He therefore ordered their arrest in 1307, and later persuaded Pope Clement V to suppress the Order throughout Europe. The last Grand Master of the medieval Knights Templar, Jacques de Molay, was burnt at the stake in Paris in 1314, while protesting the Order’s innocence and devotion to the Church. A more comprehensive history and study section is included in the History section. |
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The Modern Order The modern Order of the Temple was publicly established in Paris two hundred years ago in 1804. The Declaration of Principles of 1841 committed the modern Order to an inter-denominational Christian membership, practical charity and the pursuit of a more chivalrous society by the example of its members. In 1960 the modern Order was re-established in England and Wales. The current Grand Priory of Knights Templar in England and Wales was formed in March 2003 by the amalgamation of three previously existing associations. |
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Administration The Grand Priory operates as a voluntary organisation, governed by the Grand Priory Chapter. Officeholders are elected for individual four-year terms of office by the members meeting in the national General Assembly, which also approves the Rule, Statutes & Regulations set out in the Constitution. Local activities are organised by Preceptories, governed by their own Preceptory Chapters. For more information on Preceptories, click the link on the left-side menu. |
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Personal Commitment Membership of the Grand Priory is open to professed Christians, over eighteen years of age, who are willing to commit themselves to the traditions of the monastic rule of life contained in the “Rule of the Templars” and the code of chivalry contained in “In Praise of the New Knighthood”, both prepared for the medieval Order under the guidance of St Bernard of Clairvaux. Obligations in personal, family, professional and public life follow from the claims that the rule of life and the code of chivalry make on members. |
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Objects The objects of the Grand Priory include: pursuing excellence in work and daily life to the greater glory of God; increasing a Christian understanding of other faiths; assisting persons undertaking pilgrimages, and preserving Christian holy places in the Holy Land; promoting international peace and justice; providing humanitarian relief to the poor, sick and needy; and preserving heritage sites and promoting historical research associated with the medieval Knights Templar. |
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Regular Events The annual programme of events at national level customarily includes: - The General Assembly, which reviews the finances and activities of the Grand Priory, usually held at a place of historic interest such as Rothley in Leicestershire, where the Order has provided furnishings for the medieval Templar Chapel; - The Service of Investiture & Rededication, where new members are admitted, held at such places as Bangor, Southwark and Wells cathedrals; - The Retreat & Study Weekend, which regularly includes seminars on the traditions of the Order, the Rule of St Bernard, and topical spiritual and theological issues, and also visits to sites of special interest such as Temple Ewell in Kent, Templecombe in Somerset, and Cressing Temple in Essex; - The General Meetings and Fundraising Dinner in aid of the charitable trusts associated with the Grand Priory, and for other humanitarian aid efforts. |
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Charitable Giving The Grand Priory sponsors a registered charity, the Templar Pilgrimage Trust (No: 326561), which provides grants to the young and the disabled to travel on pilgrimage or to make religious educational visits at home and abroad. It also plans to register a second charity, the Templar Heritage Trust, with the objects of conserving buildings and sites connected with the medieval Knights Templar, providing bursaries to the unemployed and young people training in the crafts and techniques of building restoration, and making grants for relevant historical research on the medieval and modern Orders. You can read more information about these trusts via the 'Our Charities' link on the left-side menu. |
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International
Links The Grand Priory belongs to an international umbrella organisation, OSMTH – Knights Templar International, which is recognised as a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, and which is also a member organisation of the International Peace Bureau. OSMTH – Knights Templar International has other member associations in Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, NATO, Norway, Scotland, Serbia and the USA. A full list of Knights Templar associated organisations can be found in the Links section. |
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Humanitarian Aid
and Peace Promotion In addition to responding to calls for humanitarian aid as and when they arise, the Grand Priory has a national programme of charitable giving. Organisations to which we have provided regular financial support include: - The St Anthony's Orphanage in Natal, South Africa, which looks after children affected by the impact of AIDS and HIV; - The Roman Catholic Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, which has the responsibility of preserving Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and Galilee; - The Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem, which maintains a pilgrims’ hostel in the Old City and the St George’s College theological training centre; - The Reformed Church of Scotland pilgrims’ hostel at Tiberias on Lake Galilee; - The Alexandria Declaration peace process, which brings together leaders of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths in Israel and the Palestinian territories. |
The Grand Prior making a
presentation to the
Bishop of Lincoln
during a recent visit
to the
Cathedral.