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News from Grand Priory of England & Wales
We are sad to announce Chevalier William Thomas James Chapman (known to everyone as Bill) passed away suddenly at the age of sixty eight on 27 May 2012.
As well as being a long standing member of the Grand Priory, he was also Chairman of the Templar Heritage Trust. John (Preceptor) and Bridget Titcomb of the Preceptory of St Bernard attended the funeral service along with Simon Le Fevre (Grand Prior Emeritus) as a representative of the Templar Heritage Trust. May he rest in peace and rise in Glory.
On the weekend of the 9 March 2013 we held our Annual General Meeting in the village of Rothley which has a strong Templar heritage, on Saturday the ratification of the Great Leeds House to becoming a full Preceptory was voted upon and accepted. The Greater Leeds house chose “St. Everilda” for their new name.
Their new Preceptor Chevalier Brian Goodall, was also installed during the weekend, with the
election decided by postal ballot among the members of the original house. The members of the Preceptory of St. Everilda have been very active, and it is to their credit that the new Preceptory was born. Chapter wish them the very best for the future. The Order finished on Saturday with a Compline service at Rothley Parish church
On Sunday morning the announcement was made to all members that the Grand Priory will be hosting the International Order in the fall of 2014 to much excitement with many questions from the floor, the one thing we won’t be short of is volunteers to help our International brethren while they attend the conference. So the general feeling is that members of the Grand Priory wish to offer the best hospitality they can in true Templar tradition! After the session ended everyone robed for the Eucharist service in the original Templar Chapel and concluded with the Investiture of Novice Elizabeth Snowden.
The Grand Priory has been using Rothley for many years, and some time ago a lectern was donated for use in the Chapel which of late has got into a very sorry state of repair. But thanks to the efforts of Chevalier Brian Hartill, which involved very careful restoration of the wooden sections including much buffing and cleaning of the Brass Plaque, it has now been returned in full working order. We thank Brian for his hard work.
Steve Jones
Chancellor, Knights Templar England and Wales
Croatian Knights Turn to Templar Legacy
 Grand Priory of the Republic of Croatia (GPRC) was officially proclaimed on 22 September 2012 in Helsinki, thus becoming the twentieth member of OSMTH KTI. This was followed by the consecration of the Grand Priory and enthronement of the Grand Prior of GPRC, Ph.D. Đuro Črnjak G.C.T.J. that was held on 13 October 2012 in Zagreb.
“One of the goals of the Order is to spread the tolerance thereby being the builders of bridges between the Christian beliefs, Abraham beliefs, between beliefs and non-beliefs, and connect people in what unites them, rather than what separates them, for a common good of humanity” said Grand Prior to the media.
In the past few months since the recognition of GPRC, the Commanderies have been submitting a wide range of ideas proposed in their yearly programs to the Grand Prior about the activities planned for the following period. The academic research and reviving of the Templar legacy in Croatia (through renovating and researching the history of the numerous churches, chapels and abbeys the Knight Templars have built throughout Croatia from the 12th to 14th century) arise among all other proposed activities.
That the academic research of both domestic and international Templar legacy, symbolism and ideas would be taking a dominant role in the activities of the Order already became evident at the grandiose II Convent of GPRC that took place on 17 February 2013, at the costal city of Opatija. Postulants and Knights were invested and new Knight Commanders of the five Commanderies appointed by Grand Prior Črnjak but the main emphasis of the event was on the marking of the 300th Anniversary of the heroic and agonizing death of the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Jacques de Molay. The extensive and insightful lecture was given by the President of the Croatian section of the Templar Academy, Prof. Željko Baranović G.O.T.J. and was followed by the section’s meeting and discussion on other relevant academic themes relating to Templarism.
The Knights and Dames of the Grand Priory of the Republic of Croatia in front of the historic Villa Angiolina in Opatija where the II Convent took place.
On 5 March Ivan M. Glogoški KTJ and Vedran Obućina KTJ from the Zagreb Commandery organized a public lecture “Croatian Templar Architecture – the Legacy and Tourism”, at the oldest Croatian cultural institute Matica Hrvatska (Matrix Croatiae). Among the guests were representatives from the media, Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, academics, and a number of NGOs dealing with the preservation and promotion of Croatian national culture. The lecture highlighted the copious heritage of the Templars, which is a relatively un-researched area in the contemporary Croatian historical science. Also, the lecture highlighted the potential for international attraction the Templar heritage could offer to Croatian tourist industry. Thus, GPRC feels that the cultural revival of Templar legacy would not only enrich Croatian national heritage, but also the international heritage of global Templarism.
GPRC is the youngest Grand Priory in OSMTH KTI, and counts 65 members.
Petar Popovic, KCTJ
Grand Priory of Croatia
King Peter II of Yugoslavia
Born 6th September 1923 - Died 3rd November 1970
Third and last King of Yugoslavia
And last reigning member of the Karadordevic Dynasty
( Godchild of George VI of the United Kingdom)
 King Peter II was deposed by The Yugoslavic Communist Assembly on November 29th 1945. After which he settled in the United States of America. He died in Denver, Colorado on November 3rd. 1930 and was buried in the St. Sava Monastery Church at Libertyville, Illinois. The only European Monarch to be buried on American soil.
Following the fall of the Axis regime Yugoslavia was divided to become Croatia, Montenegrin and Serbia.
Previous to the war King Peter had been associated with OSMTH under the deFontes Family and was Royal Protector, of OSMTH, and followed on to be the Royal Protector of GPUSA.
On 4 March 2007 his Son Crown Prince Alexander announced plans to have his father’s remains repatriated to Serbia and this was confirmed by the Serbian Government in January of this year. On 23 January 2013 the remains of King Peter II were returned to Belgrade and received there by members of The Royal Family, the Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, and the Patriarch Innej of Serbia.
The remains of King Peter II will lie in state in the Royal Chapel in Dedinjen, with the Serbian Royal Regalia placed on top of the coffin and in May will be reburied in the Royal Family Mausoleum in Oplenac.
The Grand Prior of Serbia Chevalier Dragutin Zagorac along with the members of the Grand Priory of Serbia played a large role in this transfer and welcome home of King Peter. The Venerable Dr. Ronald Matthewman, Vicar General of OSMTH-I conveyed to The Grand Prior of Serbia our thanks for being a part of this ceremony.
OSMTH Communications
New Press Corps Members
The OSMTH Communications team is expanding! Press Corps members have been appointed from the Grand Priories of Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, England & Wales, France and Germany. Don't be left out! Your Press Corps member will see that information and news from your Grand Priory is published in the Carpe Diem.
OSMTH Communications & Press Corps
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