The general philosophy of the Grand Priory is: “Ask not what the Order can do for you, but what you can do for the Order.” Quite simply, we seek members who are willing and able to contribute to projects and initiatives that are designed to aid those in need and to contribute to the growth and development of the Grand Priory.
If you are interested in making an application to join the Order, then please also take time to read through the following answers to frequently asked questions. This list is not comprehensive but answers the most commonly asked questions.
We are an interdenominational Christian organisation and admit from all the mainstream Christian churches. Membership is open to professed Christians over the age of eighteen who are prepared to follow the Modern Rule as a guide and focus for their lives.
Should you have any further questions not listed here, then please feel free to contact us at: enquiries@osmthgpuk.org
Q. What does the Order expect of someone looking to join?
A. In the Grand Priory, we lay emphasis on the personal commitment of members to the Order’s rule of life and code of chivalry and expect members to set an example in their local communities by their conduct.
Q. How much time and effort should I expect to give to the Order?
A. In the tradition of military-monastic orders of chivalry, ours is very much a working Order. As such, full members are expected to attend meetings and to support, according to their financial means and through their active participation, the Order’s charitable, humanitarian, cultural and heritage objectives.
Q. What are the expectations from Members
A. We think it is right to aspire to high ideals in the Order, but we recognise that everyone needs help and encouragement to achieve them. Experienced members of the Order act as mentors to successful applicants and provide them with advice and support during their preparations for admission and investiture. However, support does not cease there as all members are encouraged to support and help one another in such a manner as to foster a good team spirit.
Q. What are the stages towards full membership?
A. After receipt of your membership application the Seneschal will contact you and ask several questions of you, and from your replies will decide on how to proceed. As part of the application formality, you could be invited to meet with Senior Templars locally, if convenient, or otherwise by telephone or Skype as part of a ‘getting to know you’ process. After processing your application and making some enquiries of you and your referees, the Seneschal will make a recommendation to the Grand Prior of the United Kingdom who will then review the application and provide a decision regarding the application. If your application is accepted, you will be granted the rank of Postulant, usually for a minimum period of 12 months, which is your opportunity to get to know the Order, and for the Commandery to get to know you. After approximately 12 months, if you wish to proceed to full membership and the Preceptory is satisfied that you are a suitable candidate for Investiture, you will be promoted to the rank of Novice – indicating that you are preparing for your Investiture. After becoming a Novice, you will be expected to research an aspect of either modern or original Templars and produce a short non-fiction project on a subject agreed with the Seneschal, who may appoint a senior member as your mentor. This is to make sure Novices have reflected further into Templarism. Upon your investiture you are awarded the rank of Knight/Dame and become a full member of the Order. Membership of the Order does not confer titles that have any legal or social standing outside of the Order.
Q. How long does it take to become a full member?
A. Usually between 12-24 months, and at the start of this process you will be required to meet informally an Officer or Officers of the Order in a social and friendly atmosphere.
Q. What do I do next?
(a) If you have any questions, then contact the Seneschal at enquiries@osmthgpuk.org who will be happy to respond.
(b) If you do not wish any further communication, then please inform the Seneschal.
(c) The Seneschal is the elected officer responsible to the Grand Priory`s executive body (The Chapter) for the receipt of enquiries from potential candidates for membership and the possible progression of successful candidates.
(d) If you are in sympathy with the ideals and objectives of the Order, but do not wish to take on the commitments of full membership, then you may choose to apply as a Friend. As a Friend the level of membership will enable you to still participate in the Order’s work.
We are very proud of our Friends and the work they do, and their fellowship and attendance at local and National events.
Friends of the Order may attend meetings and events, but without a vote. They may offer their services to work on certain projects set up by the Grand Priory. Friends may wear the pin badge of the Order, but do not wear insignia or mantles. They support the Order’s work, through their annual membership fees, and receive the Grand Priory’s weekly Prayers and the magazine, ‘Beaucéant’, as available.
If you would like to know more about joining the Order as a Friend, please contact the Seneschal explaining that you wish to apply for Membership as a Friend of the Knights Templar.
Q. What are the costs involved and the application procedure?
(1) Once you have decided to apply for membership, please contact the Seneschal at enquiries@osmthgpuk.org and request an application form. Once you have completed the form, please return it to the Seneschal with a £10 non-refundable administration fee.
(2) If your application is successful, we will invite you to become a Postulant then Novice, and you will be admitted into the Order in a church service led by a legally ordained Chaplain. For this service we will loan you a plain white mantle, and you will be required to pay for the Novice insignia totaling £50, which will then be exchanged at no extra cost for the neck cross and ribbon of a Dame/ Chevalier / Chaplain once you are invited to receive the accolade and are invested as a Knight, Dame or Chaplain. At this point you become responsible for the purchase from us of a distinctive white mantle with the red cross of the Templars. The approximate cost of the mantle is £150. There is an annual Membership Fee of £52 per year, payable from the time you become a Novice and thereby a Voting Member of the Grand Priory. Subscriptions must be fully paid before progression to Accolade and to maintain voting rights in elections for officers.
Please be assured, we are not after your money. Everything we do is done as efficiently as possible, with a small contingency kept for emergencies. No Members, irrespective of their rank or role within the Priory benefit from the funds of the Order.
(3) Application to the Order is open to all of Christian background and good character without discrimination, but please be aware that all membership applications are subject to several stages of review by The Grand Priory. Please note that not all applications are successful.