The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, known as the Knights Templar. The Order has its roots in the Catholic tradition but today it is Ecumenical in nature and non-denominational to enable individual membership, whilst upholding the traditions of Christianity as an institution. The Order promotes individuality and diversity, welcoming all who reverently seek Companionship.

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The Order is not a Church but an Order of Chivalry which does not impose any particular beliefs upon its members. Membership requirements are:

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• Be baptised.

• Be over the age of 18 years.

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To understand the authentic Templar way of life of Chivalry, it is necessary to define what chivalry is. As the Greek philosopher Socrates stated (ca.430 BC) ‘The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms’. The First Crusade (1096-1099 AD) was fought almost 20 years before the first Templar Order was established under the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1118 AD. The Templars rejected the idea of the Crusades as supposedly to overcome Muslims or Islam, and criticised that it “did not do what it should, and that is defend...”  From its humble beginning, the Holy Mission of the Knights Templars was to defend from all harm those who travelled on the pilgrim road to Jerusalem and the Holy Land, a journey that took believers several years to complete walking thousands of miles and proved to be very dangerous many losing their lives along the way.

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Templar Spirituality is experienced by Faith through Action in Chivalry. The Order is dedicated to humanitarian mission. The Order expects all members to partake in the practice of daily prayer and give thanks to God, members are encouraged to partake in the receiving of Holy Communion. Jesus teaches us that prayers are made effective by the Faith in one’s heart. The Apostles taught the Clergy to Minister by Spirit not the Letter. (II Corinthians 3:6) and that prayers are made effective through the Holy Spirit even when we struggle to find the words. (Romans 8:26-27). The Order maintains a focus on our unique heritage of spirituality to create this Order of Chivalry. The Modern age teaches that the form of religion should keep pace with human growth, yet ancient with its connection to the Priesthood of Melchizedek.

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The Order continues as a defender of the Church and the principal pillars essential to restore and preserve the Church. Members of the Order will obey to the Laws of the Country where they reside, be loyal to their Sovereign/President, dutiful and obedient to the Grand Master. Members will Love, Honour and serve God, walk after His Commandments and defend the Catholic Faith. Members of the Order will also follow the five basic tenants of Benedictine Spirituality.

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Be Humble

It is important to live a humble life “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted”. (Luke 14: 11)

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Live in Moderation

St Benedict counsels' moderation in all things – moderation and common sense – so as not to frighten the ‘faint hearted’. Balance our lives with prayer and work, reading and recreation, with rest and activity.
 

God's Word is important 

St Benedict realised the strongest and truest foundation for the power of words was the Word of God itself. “For what page or word of the Bible is not a perfect rule for temporal life”. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

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To Listen 

Listen with the ears of our heart, not listening in the traditional way but to listen as written in the Book of Proverbs and Psalm 43 to “incline the ear of our hearts” this requires diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer which brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading also hears God who is speaking, and in praying responds to him with ‘trusting openness of heart’.

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To Pray

Prayer is often referred to as the ‘work of God’ Prayer then is work and work is prayer, we can adopt a new vision in which all that we do is the work of prayer. We can give God the whole cycle of the day from rising to meetings, and household responsibilities until we go to bed at night.
                                                         

Apostolic Succession

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Our Templar Lineage is that of the Gnostic Templar Succession through L’Eglise Catholique de France and L’Eglise Constitutionelle.

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In 1804 several Frenchmen including a former Roman Catholic Priest founded L’Ordre de Temple and using the Larmenuis Charter declared it to be a continuation of the Medieval Templar Order suppressed in 1312. Many former Roman Catholic Clergy joined the Order and affiliated the Church Eglise Johannite des Chrestiens Primitifs which was influential in the revival of esoteric Catholicism and Templarism. Several Churches and Orders including our own are proud to trace a line of Apostolic Succession below.

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• Pope Benedict XIII (Pietro Francesco Vincenzo Maria Orsini de Gavina) (1649-1730) Consecrated as Bishop of Auch 19 March 1726.

• Melchior de Polignac (1661-1741) of the Eglise Catholique de France Assisted by Mgr Henri Constance de Mabras Bishop of Macon, and Mgr Polignac consecrated as Bishop of Bescincon 11th September 1735.

• Antione Pierre de Grammont II (1685-1754) Assisted by Mgr Pierre Francoise Hugon Auxiliary Bishop of Basel 22 November 1744.

• Joseph Wilhelm Rink von Baldenstein (1704-62) Assisted by the Abbot of Bellislay and the Abbot of Haulerive consecrated as Bishop of Lausanne 1 April 1759.

• Joseph Nicolas de Montenach (1709-82) Assisted by Abbot Gregoire Girardin, Cistercian Convent of Lucelle and Abbot Hieronymus Brunner, Benedictine Convent of Mariastein (Beinwill) consecrated as Co-adjutor to the Archbishop of Basel on 22 March 1722.

• Jean Baptiste Gobel (1724-94) Bishop of Paris in the Eglise Constitutionelle (1791) assisted by Mgr Jean-Baptiste Dubourg Miraudot, Bishop of Dax, both of Eglise Constitutionelle, consecrated as Bishop of Lyon on 27 March 1791

• Antoine Adrien Lamourette (1742-94) who assisted by gr Jean Francois Perier, Bishop of Clermont and Mgr Jacques Guillaume-Rene Francois Prudhomme de la Bolissiniere des Vallees, Bishop of Le Mans, both of Eglise Constitutionelle, consecrated as Bishop of Belley 3rd/4th April 1791.

• Jean Baptiste Royer (1733-1807) who assisted by Mgr Henri Francois Gregoire, Bishop of Blois and Mgr Eleonore Marie Desbois de Rochfor, Bishop of Amiens, consecrated as Bishop Santo Domingo on 3 August 1800.

• Guillaume Mauviel (1757-1814) Primate, Eglise Johannite des Chretiens Primitifs (1810) who concecrated sub-conditione on 29 July 1810 as Raymond de Spolete.

• Bernard Fabre-Palaprat (1773-1838) Patriarch, Eglise Johannite des Chretiens Primitifs (1803) who assisting Mgr Mauriel consecrated sub-conditione as Co-adjutor of Eglise Johannite des Chretiens Primitifs as ‘Bailli de Jutland’ on 29 July 1810

• Jean Machault Primate Eglise Johannite des Chretiens Primitifs (1814) who consecrated as Primate de Gaules on 20 February 1831

• Francois Ferdinand Toussaint Chatel (1795-1857) co-founder Eglise Catholique Francaise (1831)

• Francois Ferdinand Toussaint Chatel (1795-1857) co-founder Eglise Catholique Francaise (1831) Primate, Eglise Johannite des Chretiens Primitifs (1831) who assisted by Mgr Luc Barneoud and Mgr Louis Vacherot, both of Eglise des Chretiens Primitifs consecrated as Primate Eglise Albigeoise on 24 June 1836.

• Michel-Henri d’Adhemar (1801-1900) who assisted by Mgr Luc Barneoud and Louis Vacherot both of Eglise Johannite des Chretiens Primitifs consecrated as Bishop of Eglise Albigeoise on 2 February 1857.

• Manuel Lopez de Brion (1830-74) who consecrated as Bishop of Eglise Albigeoise on 2 February 1860.

• Paul-Pierre Marraga (1823-1901) who consecrated as Bishop of Eglise Spirite Albigeoise on 15 August 1899.

• Lucien Francois(Tau Ogdoade-orfeo I) Jean-Maine (1869-1960) who consecrated as Bishop of Eglise Spirite Albigeoise 25 January 1953.

• Hector Francois (Tau Ogdoade-Orfeo III) Jean Maune (1924-84) Patriarch Ecclesia Gnostica Spiritualis (1962) who assisted by Mgr Jose Marragay Adhemar, Eglise Spirite des Chretiens Primitif consecrated as Bishop of Eglise Gnostique on 25 January 1966.

• Michaul- Paul (Tau Ogdoade Orfeo IV) Bertiaux who assisted by Bishops Peter A Kett and Mark Andrew (Tau Hilarion) Worcester, both of Ecclesia Gnostica in Anglia consecrated sub-conditione on 16 June 1979.

• Forest Ernest Barber (1922-92) Bishop Primate, Igreja Catolica Apostolica Dominica (1985) who assisted by Archbishop Primate Emile F.R. Fairfield, Iglesia Ortodoxa Catolica Mexicana, and Paul G.W.Schultz, Iglesia Ortodoxa Catolica Mexicana and Apostolic Administrator Episcopal Church of the USA consecrated on 14 June 1987.

• Nils Bertil Alexander Persson (Mar Alexander) who on 23 November 2008 consecrated sub conditione Andrew Linley (Mar Andreas) Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church consecrated on 26 September 2009

• Adrian Trimlett Glover (1963-) Mar Trimlett Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church consecrated sub conditione 10 September 2011

• Andrew Grant Hall (Mar Andreas II) Primate of the Reformed Old Catholic Church, Prior KTC and David A Upton (1962-) (Mar Benedict) Grand Master of the Order of Our Lady of Carmel. 

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Templar Degrees

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The Order has Three Degrees, that of Knight/Dame, Sergeant and Companion.

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The Degree of Knight/Dame is open to all Bishops and Priests of any Christian Denomination who satisfy the selection criteria.

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The Degree of Sergeant is open to all those ordained men and women in Holy Orders from Porter to the Diaconate. For those Members who wish to be considered for the Degree of Knight once they have attained the Clerical role of Priest may proceed to the Degree of Knight within the Order.

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The Degree of Companion is open to all Lay Christian men and women. Those entering Holy Orders may proceed to other degrees.

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Post-Nominals used within the Order are purely for purposes of the Order and are not to be used for advancement or gain within Secular Society, any Member bringing the Order into disrepute will be removed from the Order.
 

The Post Nominals are as follows;

Knight Templar of Our Lady of Carmel. KTC

Dame Templar of Our Lady of Carmel. DTC

Sergeant Templar of Our Lady of Carmel. STC

Companion Templar of Our Lady of Carmel. CTC 

 

 

Standard of Dress within the Order

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Companion

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White shirt/blouse with Navy Blue Tie/Scarf, White Mantle adorned with a Blue Cross on the Left Shoulder.

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Sergeant

A white cassock/habit, with a Navy-Blue Cord Rope tied around the waist fastened on the left-hand side, with a White Mantle adorned with a Blue Cross on the Left shoulder, Deacon’s may wear a blue stole in the style befitting their clerical status.

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Knight/Dame

A white cassock/habit, with a Navy-Blue Cord Rope tied around the waist, fastened on the left-hand side with a white mantle with a Royal Blue Collar adorned with a Royal Blue Cross on the left shoulder. A blue stole is to be worn in the style of the office of the wearer with a black biretta.
 

Prayers used within the Order

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A Morning Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, we Your faithful soldiers dedicate this new-born day to You, praying that it may shine in Your service as a pearl in the chaplet of our life. O great King of Love, to Whom be praise and adoration for evermore. Amen.

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A Prayer to our Patron St Teresa

O Lord who said ‘unless you become as little children, you shall not enter the Kingdom of heaven’ grant us, so to walk in the footsteps of our Patroness Teresa, with a humble and single heart, that we may obtain the everlasting rewards, who lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.

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A Prayer to St John the Baptist

O Christ our Lord, who sent John the Baptist to prepare the way; accept us now we pray as heralds of Your glorious coming, that by devotion, steadfastness and gentleness in preaching and ministering to Your people, we too may win the hearts of humankind to You, whom we confess as Lord now and evermore, Amen.

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Prayer for St John the Evangelist

Merciful Lord, cast Your beams of light upon Your Church that it being enlightened by the doctrine of John, Your Blessed Apostle and Evangelist, may so walk in the light of Your truth, that it may at length attain to the light of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

Prayer to St Mary Magdalene

O lamp of the world and gleaming pearl, who by announcing Christ’s resurrection merited to become the ‘Apostle of the Apostle’s’ Mary Magdalene, be ever our loving advocate with God who has chosen you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer of St Bernard of Clairveaux

High and Holy God, give me this day, a world of truth to silence the lies that would devour my soul, and kind encouragements to strengthen me when I fall. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer of St Joseph of Arimathea.

Pray for us, that our hearts will not be troubled by the burdens of this life, instead, that we will place all our trust in Jesus.

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Creed

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible: and in one Lord, bow head Jesus Christ, the Son of God: the Only begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father; by Whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, genuflect AND WAS INCARNATE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE VIRGIN MARY, AND BECAME MAN. rise And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose Kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father; who with the Father and the Son bow head together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. In one, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life † of the world to come. Amen.

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Racism or Extreme Pride of Race  

We believe racism and intolerance to be against the word of God and his plan for humanity. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for all are one in Christ Jesus". (Galatians 3:2) "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." (Ephesians 2:19-22)

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The Most Rev Dr David Upton KTC

Grand Master