TEMPLE Medieval site of KnightsTemplar

The Muster of KT of the Preceptory of Saint Bernard of Clairvausx

Dear Archie,
It is a week since you were so king to bring me to the KT Lecture of Ian Robertson and then also to visit the site of your own Preceptory site of St. Bernard of Clairvaux.

The attached photos make a good Chronicle of the eventful day.

Ian’s talk was a substantive contribution to the myriad faces of the Templar history. The discussion opens up so many other avenues.

The visiting Knights from Newcastle brought another interesting links in the chain of monastic sites like, Brinkburn Priory, Rothbury, Northumberland.

I am sure Ian was drawing on his special research. He could have very well given some promotion to his own publications, “Quest for the Celtic Key”, Rosslyn and the Grail.

TEMPLE/Balantradock.

Thank you, Archie, for taking me to Balantradock. At last I was able enjoy getting my feet on the ground in the place of your new Preceptory at Temple Village.

The picture I took of Deuchar’s Arch, the entrance arch to the Medieval Preceptory, reminds me of your comments on its history.

May I ask you if you would be good enough to remind again of the details?

Like all the other aspects of this fascinating place, the arch is only another a very small tail wagging a very large dog of as yet uncovered records.

When the archaeological research has progressed, it might become possible to create a VIRTUAL RECONSTRUCTION of the ‘Temple’ at a level under the subsequent Church of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and the still later Old Kirk now in ruins.

The lecture had us immersed in the heraldry and symbolism with which Templar history is seeped. It even brought us into the realms of Liturgy, more familiar to the monks as discussion touched on the Pelican, the Phoenix, the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), the rallying call and banner of the Templars, “Beauseant”.

It is very interesting from, the Cistercian point of view, to hear the explanation of the Black and White flag. ‘Symbolically, the black section is said to have depicted the sins of the secular world that the Templar knights had chosen to leave, while the second section was white - depicting the purity that the order offered them - a sort of transformation from darkness to light’. Another interpretation of the PIEBALD design can only be miles off the mark if the idea of the single mindedness and dedication marks Templars or monks.

Many thanks again for the hospitality,
the interest and the
summer feast laid out for us by your family.