Renewing the Bonds of the Order

The term, “in the Bonds of the Order” took on a new twist for Northumberland’s Brinkburn Preceptory when it met in Morpeth on the 19th April. Whilst the agenda indicated no candidate for admission, the Knights assembled, supported by 6 very distinguished guests from four other Preceptories in the Province were treated to a lecture with a difference. Sporting a title of the Templars and banking, which sounded as exciting as a water biscuit without butter ! The reality could not be further from the truth. 

Kt Steven Mathews delivering his exquisite lecture.

RE Kt Roddy MacKenzie GCT, Grand Seneschal of Great Priory Germany (second from right), alongside newly installed Preceptor and the Provincial Top Team, where he first presented the table top Templar figure.
E.Kt Neil Fraser (Eminent Preceptor) receiving newly re-dedicated Templar figure from E Kt Lt Col (Retd) Ian Harper.

The lecture was presented by the Preceptory’s Marshall, E.Kt Steven Mathews. He being a retired bank manager by profession, his subject was truly first class, thoroughly researched and beautifully delivered, helping to bring a multitude of disparate threads of understanding into coherent focus.It was during the more informal part of the meeting as everyone started to think of supper that something truly unique occurred.

E Kt Lt Col (Retd) Ian Harper, also a long standing member (32 years) of a Preceptory in Germany, had the great honour to re-present a re-dedicated Templar desk top figure on behalf of the Grand Master of the Great Priory of Germany, ME Kt Roddy Mackenzie GCT.

The figure was first presented by him in October 2018 when he visited Brinkburn as the Great Seneschal of Germany. During which, he indicated, his reception and enjoyment of the meeting was so deep, it had left a profound mark on him with the seeds of friendship and Bonds of the Order deeply rooted.

It is thought this presentation may be the first of its kind ticking several firsts in the annuls of the Great Priory of England as well as the Great Priory of Germany.

Following his attendance at a regular meeting of Pilgrims No.5. in Herford (Germany) in March 2024, RE Kt Harper KCT, received at the hand of ME Kt Mackenzie GCT a re-dedicated Templar figure, with a new and additional inscribed brass plate.

On handing the figure to RE Kt Harper KCT, he said, 

“It is with great pleasure I hand you this figure, which I have rededicated as a mark of my deep friendship and high regard I hold the Knights of Northumberland in. In doing so, renewing the Bonds of the Order with those I hold in high esteem.

VE Kt Lt Col (Retd) Ian Harper KCT receiving the re-dedicated Templar figure from the Grand Master of the Great Priory of Germany, ME Kt Roddy Mackenzie GCT.

It is my intent to lead a delegation from Germany this or next year to visit Northumberland and very much look forward to building on our friendship and giving real and living meaning to our greeting, “In the Bonds of the Order.”
Cote of Arms for the Great Priory of Germany.