The Order of Knight Templar Priests goes back to the Anahilt Union Band in County Down,
Ireland in 1792. So far over 60 Union Bands have been identified in Ireland with only
a small number being under the Irish Early Grand Encampment and even fewer being "banded"
with one or more Lodges. During this period there was no ruling body.
In 1807 the Early Grand Conclave of Scotland warranted the Joppa Encampment of Knights Templar
in Sunderland. This Encampment was also authorised to work a number of other degrees, including
the Knight Templar Priests. In 1812, the Newcastle upon Tyne Members petitioned the Grand
Conclave of England for a warrant. This was granted in the name of the Royal Kent Encampment.
The Order of Knight Templar Priests appears to have only worked spasmodically as was the Royal Kent
Conclave, eventually coming under the aegis of the Council of Knight Grand Cross of the Holy
Temple of Jerusalem formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1845.
Henry Hotham - a Yorkshireman - being the last Installed Master, or High Priest, of the Independent
Chapter of Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests, on Good Friday, 23 March 1894, admitted nine
Knights into the Order under the authority of one of the original Rules of the Order.
Henry Hotham died on 17 May 1895. The revived Tabernacle, in conjunction with the Knights
Grand Cross, being conscious of the efforts of the Council of Allied Masonic Degrees in London
to found a "Grand Council of Rites", agreed that with its then 24 Appendant Degrees to become the
Royal Kent Tabernacle, Time Immemorial.
From 1894 the Order continued under the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degree, until by
mutual consent it separated and became the Grand College. Grand College had its first meeting
on 15 May 1924 in Newcastle upon Tyne but has since move to York, where it remains to this day.
The Order is world wide, with two hundred and thirty five Tabernacles formed in 47 Districts in the
countries of Australia, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Jersey, Malaysia,
The Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Togo and Wales. In 2008, Bolivia will be
added to this extensive list.
Knight Time: 02:21:37 08/08/2008
