In 1119, the French Knight Hugues de Payens, a veteran of the First Crusade, was in Jerusalem on a pilgrimage when he looked around him and saw the mounting carnage of Christian pilgrims routinely attacked, robbed, and killed on their way to worship at the holy sites. It was then that he approached King Baldwin II of Jerusalem and Warmund, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and proposed creating a monastic Catholic religious Order specifically for the protection of these Christian pilgrims. King Baldwin and Patriarch Warmund agreed to the request (most likely at the Council of Nablus in January 1120), and the…

It is all too easy to forget history and invent a false record in any field or interest. It is usually not done purposefully, and in the case of our Templar heroes, a large part of it is woven together by creating a belief system based on legends, Hollywood and Internet lore instead of what actually happened over our 193-year history. While many think the only task of the Templar Knights was to hang around Jerusalem, escort pilgrims, collect treasure, and exchange Templar Traveler Cheques, it was – as one would expect – far more complicated. The precursor knights from…

  I found myself in a very unique niche in my early Naval years. At one point in 1975, I was awaiting orders to Officer Candidate School as an enlisted Quartermaster working for the Commander of Pearl Harbor Naval Station. He was doing everything he could to make a Mustang Officer out of me and, while I was waiting, he gave me very compelling assignment. Knowing that at that time I was intending to become a submariner, I was to select any submarine in Pearl Harbor, and he would call the CO and set me up with temporary duty onboard….

In three days, the Priory of the Temple Church will be convening our Business Meeting the link that has been provided in your email. 7:00 PM Sunday 27 April Business Meetings of any kind have received what perhaps may be a well-deserved bad reputation in any organization. But as I have discovered as the moderator for decades in both church and NASA business meetings – a lion’s share of the bad rep is due to the single-point failure of the moderator. It is their job to clearly understand the meeting’s landscape and professionally handle the inevitable case of crossed wires,…

A Message from the Prior Beginning next Wednesday, 16 April, I will post Holy Week messages each day from Wednesday through Resurrection Sunday in lieu of a single Battlefield Report. As you prepare to celebrate this upcoming Holy Week – in Lent or as another worship tradition – Claudia and I pray your heart will be filled with rejoicing in this extraordinary season celebrating the breathtaking grace of our Lord! ______________________________________   The Templar journey is today, just as it has always been a spiritual one. Our forefathers of antiquity were cloistered monks, offering their military service to the Church….

On the Feast of St. Cuthbert, Saturday, 22 March 2025, the Convocation of Anglican Churches initiated a reorganization that created the Diocese of St. Cuthbert (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina). The Convocation of Anglican Churches took this opportunity to convene a Mass for the Anglo-Catholic Consecration of Bishop-Elect, the Reverend Canon David Sokol – who is currently the Chaplain and Inspector for the Priory of The Temple Church – to become the first Bishop Ordinary of the new Diocese. The Consecration was conducted at Reverend Canon David Sokol‘s home church, St. Martin’s Anglican Church in Ocala, Florida. Members of the Priory…

As Templars, we have been thoroughly trained by God’s Word to know how to enter and manage the spiritual warfare of life. It is our oath and calling to stand out here on the Battlefield every day and participate. As 21st century Templars, this is our daily job description as explained in God’s own Words: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but…

  A decade ago, I had just been touched by the sword of the accolade. One minute I was a common soldier in the Army of Christ. The next minute, I was a Templar Knight in the Army of Christ. The day before I was a bondslave of Jesus and a slave of my fellow Christians. But after the touch of the sword, I was not only a bondslave of Jesus… but now I was also a totally humbled slave of the slaves in the Kingdom. (Matthew 23:11) The sacred white mantle of my calling bore on it the red…

  Depending on the situation, I describe myself as is indicated on my various business cards – and I have a handful, to be sure. But of all my titles, including Templar Knight, I do not yet have a card for this one: alien. I am an alien among the people of planet Earth. I had my suspicions at first – but now I am certain of it. Not an illegal alien, to be sure. Just a garden variety alien, as I am about to fully disclose. I also openly confess to being a really geeky alien as well, frequently…

The Convent and Investiture of the Priory of The Temple Church with the Commandery of the Holy Trinity 28 February – 2 March 2025 The Temple Church C&I commenced with the Prior’s Reception and Dinner on Friday, 28 February, at Sonny’s BBQ Restaurant in Titusville, Florida. There were 34 attendees. Grand Chancellor, H.E. COL Chev. Fredrick Kienle, PhD, GCTJ, accompanied by his wife Laura, was present for the weekend events. The reception included dining, a review of the weekend by the Prior, and raffles to benefit The Temple Church Priory Scholarship Fund. Following the reception, there was continued fellowship around…