News & Articles

24 October 2025 – Provincial Malta Ceremony

On the 24th October 2025 the Province of Essex again held its annual Malta Ceremony at Saxon Hall, Southend-on-Sea, where ten candidates took their Degree and were welcomed into the Order.

The meeting was presided over by the Sub Prior, E.Kt. Mark Harrison, in the presence of the Provincial Prior, R.E.Kt. Roger Langdon Smith, and was attended by over 100 Knights and visiting heads of other Orders.

Photographs by the Provincial Photographer, Kt. Robert Brettell

21 September 2025 – Family Church Service

The Knights of the Province joined the regular congregation at St Peter in the Fields, Bocking, for the Annual Family Church Service, attended by over 150 people.

8 May 2025 – Provincial Meeting of the Province of Essex

On the 8th May 2025 the Province of Essex once again held its annual Knights Templar meeting at Saxon Hall Southend. The meeting was a great success with 180 knights attending the meeting, with guests joining the Knights of Essex from Yorkshire, Devon & Cornwall, East Anglia, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Worcester, Surrey, Lincolnshire and London.

The Provincial Prior R. E. Kt. Roger Smith appointed his active officers for the year along with those Knights receiving their first honours and promotions. He reminded the Knights that the honours they were receiving were not for just what they had done, but for what they should continue to do in the future.

With the start of the new Provincial 'Centenary Fund' the Prior took the opportunity of presenting 'Patron Certificates' to those Preceptories that had achieved Patron status, which has raised to date the magnificent sum of £10,000. The new 1930 first Provincial Prior Collar Jewel cufflinks were available for collection at the meeting and this has raised a further £1,000 for the 'Centenary Fund.'

Photographs by the Provincial Photographer Kt. Robert Brettell

First Individual Centenary Fund Patron

At the recent annual Heads of Orders Luncheon the Provincial Prior R. E. Kt. Roger Smith was delighted to present a collarette and lapel badge to the first Individual recipient of Patron of the Centenary Fund, R.E.Kt. John Helliar KCT.

Since then another 50 Knights have joined him as Patrons. A superb start to the new Individual Patrons of the Centenary Fund, which will continue over the next 5 years until the Centenary in 2030.

12 February 2026 – Hugo de Payens Preceptory No. 467 Celebrates 50th Anniversary

A Golden Meeting in the K.T. Province of Essex. Hugo de Payens Preceptory No. 467 held their 50th Anniversary meeting on Thursday 12th February 2026 at Rochford Masonic Centre, Essex.

Not only did a very well attended meeting help the Preceptory celebrate this Golden Anniversary but they also enjoyed the excellent installation of the Registrar's son, Kt Michael Darby. In the company of the R.E. Provincial Prior of Essex, Roger Langdon Smith, escorted by members of the Provincial team and the Bodyguard, 31 Knights shared in a very memorable occasion.

In a fitting celebration, the Preceptory Registrar, E. Kt Trevor Darby took an active role in installing his son into the Order to the delight of those present. The occasion was marked very specially by the Preceptory making the Provincial Prior an Honorary member, much to his surprise and delight.

In keeping with the anniversary theme and in recognition of the Province's own Centenary in 2030, the Preceptory presented the Provincial Prior with a very generous cheque for £1000, making them a Bronze Patron of the Province's Centenary Fund. The Provincial Prior had much pleasure in presenting the Preceptory with a certificate to mark the donation.

At the Festive Board, the Knights dined together in peace and harmony and enjoyed a specially made cake presented by E. Kt David Dann. It proved to be a very memorable and enjoyable meeting for all those present and a suitable celebration of this important event.

12 January 2026 – An Essex Link to the Past

In 2030 the Province of Essex will be 100 years old and in the run up to that celebration a number of collectable items will be produced. The first of these was a set of Limited edition Cufflinks of which only 100 sets were produced.

The profit from the sale of the Cufflinks has gone to the Jerusalem Eye Hospital. The cufflinks are a copy of the first Provincial Prior the Rev. Felix E Crate's Collar Jewel. The original collar jewel is in sterling silver and is hall marked 1930—the year of the consecration of the Knights Templar Province of Essex.

At the recent Provincial Priors Conference at MMH in London, the Provincial Prior of Essex R.E.Kt. Roger Smith took the opportunity to present to the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master Paul Clement and to the Great Vice Chancellor Dan Heath a presentation pair of these cufflinks.

22 February 2022 - Sir William St Clair Preceptory - No. 0641

At the recent meeting of Sir William St. Clair Preceptory No. 641 held at the Howard Hall Braintree V.E.Kt. John Simons relinquished the Eminent Preceptors chair to R.E.Kt. John Helliar the Provincial Prior of the Province of Essex.

The ceremony of Installation was carried out by his Provincial Sub Prior E.Kt. Roger Smith. All 3 are seen here with many recognizable faces from the Province of Essex along with several visitors.

4 February 2022 - Ambresbury Preceptory No. 583

At the recent Ambresbury Preceptory meeting held at the Cross Keys Masonic Centre the Eminent Preceptor E. Kt. Robert Young had the pleasure of Installing Comp. Mark Humberstone as a Knight of the order.

The Provincial Sub Prior E. Kt. Roger Smith was in attendance with members of the Provincial Priors Bodyguard and other Provincial Officers.

3 November 2021 - Waltham Holy Cross Preceptory No. 507

At the recent Waltham Holy Cross Preceptory meeting at Witham Masonic Hall, after 32 years Kt. Roy Nunn finally, at the age of 85, became Eminent Kt. Roy Nunn when he was Installed into the chair by E.Kt. Phil Poston.

Roy originally joined Knights Templar in March 1989 and was a member at Chelmersforde Preceptory No.274. He was a member of the Provincial Bodyguard from 1994 until 2004 and is also a member of Maplestead Preceptory No.256.

12 October 2021 - St Thomas a Becket Preceptory No. 453

St Thomas a Becket Preceptory look forward to a trio of installations as they welcomed the second of 3 candidates, Kt Glen Pearson, into the Order.

Having installed a Knight at their last meeting and with a Knight to install at their next, they are certainly being kept busy. In the presence of the Provincial Prior, who presented a certificate to Kt Michael Wright and the Accolade to Kt Glen, it was a very enjoyable and successful meeting.

In addition, in only his first full meeting since joining the Order, Knight Michael Wright presented an explanation of the Symbols in an excellent manner. With the 3rd of 3 new candidates joining in February, it's definitely an exciting period for this hard-working Preceptory.

It's worthy of note that St Thomas a Becket Preceptory also had the pleasure of installing as Knights of the Order, Right Eminent Knight, Timothy John Lewis G.C.T. the Past Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master as well as R.E. Kt. John Brackley, G.C.T. Past Great Vice Chancellor.

Indeed, the new Knights of the Order certainly have some illustrious footsteps in which to follow.

29 September 2021 - Medieval celebrations mark the Provinces' 90th Anniversary

The long awaited Medieval Banquet to mark the 90th Anniversary of the foundation of the Province of Essex took place at the end of September at the Square in Upminster. The event was attended by over 50 Knights of the Province to mark this special occasion.

Not to be outdone by the evenings entertainer, Mathew, better known as the Fool Monty, many of the Knights took the trouble to dress in costumes of the Medieval period. The evening included a medieval meal with period music and entertainment.

Mementos of the evening were presented to the Knights in the form of a commemorative engraved tumbler and a distinctive glass coaster, a personal gift from the Provincial Prior. The evening proved to be an enjoyable and successful event for all those in attendance.

19 September 2021 - Essex KT Church Service - "A Joyful Return"

After a break of 2 years due to the pandemic, the Annual Essex Knight Templar Family Church Service resumed on Sunday 19th September 2021 at St Peter's in the Fields Parish Church, Bocking at Braintree.

The Service was enjoyed by over 130 people with a colourful backdrop made up by Preceptory banners, which were blessed as part of the Service. The Reverend Tim Barnes presided over the proceedings, including a thought provoking sermon. Lessons were read by the Provincial Sub-Prior and Prior, whilst the Provincial Prelate recited "The Precepts of The Order" and led the "Recommitment to Knightly Service".

The Service was followed by Afternoon Tea at Howard Hall, where 95 were booked to sit down together for an enjoyable afternoon. Cheques were presented for the Church, the Church Choir, and a further donation was made to The Howard Hall Masonic Club.

1 September 2021 - Maplestead Preceptory - V.E.Kt. Peter Bidmead P.Gt.2nd Constable

On Wednesday 1st September 2021 the Provincial Prior R.E.Kt. John Helliar along with the Provincial Sub Prior and a delegation of Provincial Officers made an official visit to Maplestead Preceptory No.256 for a unique occasion.

V.E.Kt. Peter Bidmead P.Gt.2nd Con. was celebrating 63 years as a Knight Templar Mason. The Provincial Prior presented V.E.Kt. Peter with his Great Priory 60 year certificate, a Provincial Priors Award of Merit certificate, and a personal gift.

V.E.Kt. Peter who will be 99 in January of next year was delighted and happy that his special occasion had been remembered.