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20 September 2026 – The Essex KT Family Church Service

On a very bright Sunday afternoon, the Knights of the Province of Essex, together with their Provincial Prior – R.E.Kt. Roger Langdon Smith – met for their Annual KT Family Church Service at St Peter’s Church in Bocking, Braintree.

With the assistance of the Provincial Prelate – V.E.Kt. Les Retford – the Service was led for the first time by the Very Reverend Canon Rod Reid, Dean of Bocking.

In the usual very enjoyable and very well attended Service, the Knights joined with the Congregation to fill the Church for another memorable event.

The Service included a number of very moving anthems sung by the Church Choir, following which the Knights recommitted themselves to their Service and the Order.

Following the dedication of the Banners, the Knights, led by the Provincial Prior together with members of the Church including the Dean of Bocking, retired to Howard Hall for Afternoon Tea.

This part of the day is a chance for everyone to enjoy tea and refreshments with wives, partners and friends.

A packed hall saw the Provincial Prior present the Dean of Bocking with a cheque for £500 towards the Church and another £100 for the Choir.

The Annual KT Family Church Service and Afternoon Tea is an event which is enjoyed across the Province, and St Peter’s Church at Bocking, Braintree continues to be the spiritual home for Knights Templar in Essex.

June – July 2026 – Essex Knights go on Campaign across 5 Provinces

During a busy three week campaign, the Provincial Prior, Sub Prior and the Knights of Essex have been out on tour representing the Province of Essex in Hertfordshire, Derbyshire, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey at their annual Provincial meetings.

Hertfordshire

The start of this busy period saw 10 Essex Knights visit Hertfordshire on Thursday 25th June on a very hot and sunny day. They were warmly welcomed by R.E.Kt. Alistair White the Provincial Prior and the Knights of the Province of Hertfordshire. The meeting gave them the opportunity to witness the installation of the new Provincial Sub Prior E.Kt. Steffan Rhys Madoc.

The first picture shows a relaxed contingent before the meeting, enjoying a bacon roll and a glass of something cold. In the photo are E.Kt. Chris M Smith, the Provincial Prior R.E.Kt. Roger Langdon Smith, E.Kt. David Chapman, E.Kt. David Fish, Kt. Stephen Hutton, the Sub Prior E.Kt. Graham Elvidge, V.E.Kt. Clive Purdy and E.Kt. Mark Harrison. Also present but not in time for the photo were E.Kt. Carl George and Kt. Rauf Kaytaz.

After the meeting, the Provincial Prior and Sub Prior for Hertfordshire took time to pose for a photo and the Provincial Prior also took refreshment with all the visiting Knights from Essex. Not in the group photo was Kt. Stephen Hutton who at the time, was visiting the bar!

Derbyshire

There followed 5 days later a journey to Derby by 6 Essex Knights to see the Right Eminent and Supreme Grand Master install R.E.Kt. Adam Lancashire into the chair as the new Provincial Prior of Derbyshire. The Prior then installed his new Sub Prior E.Kt. Anthony Lymer.

Both can be seen in the first picture together with the Great Seneschal on the left and the Most Eminent & Supreme Grand Master second left, next to the newly installed Provincial Prior of Derbyshire along with the new Provincial Sub Prior.

The second photo shows the visiting Knights from Essex. They are (l–r) the Sub Prior E.Kt. Graham Elvidge, E.Kt. John Brindley, the Provincial Prior R.E.Kt. Roger Langdon Smith, E.Kt. Chris M Smith, E.Kt. Ken Bessent & E.Kt. Carl George.

Kent

Just 4 days later, on the following Saturday, there followed what for some of the Knights of Essex is a regular and popular trip across the river to our friends in Kent. Here there is always a very warm welcome from the Provincial Prior R.E.Kt. David Jordon K.C.T. and his band of Knights, all regular visitors to Essex. This was, for the Provincial Prior R.E.Kt. Roger Smith, his 20th visit to a Provincial meeting of Kent.

Accompanying him as seen in the photo are (l–r) E.Kt. David Chapman, E.Kt. Andrew Hurrell, V.E.Kt. Peter Swannell, V.E.Kt. Clive Purdy, R.E.Kt. Roger Langdon Smith and E.Kt. Chris M Smith.

The second picture shows V.E.Kt. Clive Purdy, E.Kt. Chris M Smith and our Provincial Prior R.E.Kt. Roger Langdon Smith in a familiar pose, relaxing before dinner. The next picture shows our Provincial Prior with a number of the distinguished guests.

Middlesex

Two days later, it was another chance to see our Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master carry out another excellent ceremony when he installed R.E.Kt. Terry O'Neil into the chair of the Province of Middlesex. The new Provincial Prior then installed the new Sub Prior E.Kt. Kenneth D'Souza.

Due to restricted numbers on this occasion only the Provincial Prior and Sub Prior were able to attend, but of course they were joined in his official capacity as Great Vice Chancellor by Essex Knight R.E.Kt. Dan Heath K.C.T., a member of Arthur Dentith Preceptory, and the Great Guard E.Kt. Michael West, a member of Frederick C Hughes.

The first two pictures show the Prior and Sub Prior on their visit with R.E.Kt. Terry O'Neill, newly installed Provincial Prior of Middlesex, and with R.E.Kt. Daniel Heath K.C.T. The other pictures show the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master, the new Prior and Sub Prior of Middlesex, and the Provincial Prior with other guests from Surrey and Kent.

Surrey

To round off a very hot and busy couple of weeks, our band of travelling Knights attended the Provincial meeting of Surrey in Croydon. A chance to catch up and enjoy the infectious humour and enthusiasm of their Provincial Prior R.E.Kt. Patrick Crossan, another regular visitor to Essex, and all the Knights of Surrey.

The first photograph shows the Provincial Prior with R.E.Kt. Trevor Gulliver K.C.T., a very distinguished Knight from Hampshire and a good friend of Essex, who helped out by playing the organ at the Surrey meeting. The next photo shows a view of the meeting before its start.

The photo of visiting Essex Knights shows (l–r) E.Kt. Andrew Hurrell, E.Kt. Chris M Smith, the Provincial Prior R.E.Kt. Roger Langdon Smith, the Sub Prior E.Kt. Graham Elvidge and E.Kt. David Chapman. Attending but missing from the group photo was V.E.Kt. Peter Swannell, pictured alongside.

The Provincial Prior R.E.Kt. Roger Smith and Sub Prior E.Kt. Graham Elvidge, along with the 12 other Knights of Essex, would like to thank all of the Knights of the Provinces they visited for their wonderful hospitality and, more importantly, for the Fellowship, Friendship and Fun.

Brother Knights of Essex, if you would like to take the opportunity of expanding your enjoyment of your Knights Templar masonry by joining the happy band of travellers, contact the Vice Chancellor E.Kt. Chris M Smith. Dates for visits to other Provinces can also be found on the calendar.

20 May 2026 – Great Priory Meeting

A rewarding and enjoyable day was had by well over 20 Essex Knights when they attended the Great Priory meeting in London recently.

An opportunity to see the pomp and ceremony of this colourful occasion and to meet again friends from around the country and across the world.

5 Essex Knights received their Honours from the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master Paul Raymond Clement.

The Knights receiving honours were E.Kt. Chris M Smith promoted to PGDep. Swd B. along with E.Kt.'s Keith Flaxman and John Finlay PGA de C and E.Kt.'s Stephen Cooper and John Ormes PG Wof R.

During the meeting the Great Vice Chancellor R.E.Kt. Dan Heath on behalf of all of the Knights attending, offered congratulations to the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master on his recent appointment and promotion to Pro Grand Master of the Mark Master Masons.

After the ceremony 20 of the Knights dined and enjoyed each other's company at the Dinner in the Great Connaught Rooms which was followed by a convivial get together in a famous local hostelry.

14 May 2026 – Provincial Meeting of the Province of Essex

The Annual Provincial Priory of Essex Knights Templar meeting was held at Saxon Hall, Southend on the 14th May

Nearly 200 Knights attended the meeting with guests joining the Knights of Essex from far and wide, including the Provinces of East Anglia, Yorkshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Hampshire, Northamptonshire, Dorset, Nottinghamshire, Monmouth & South Wales, Somerset and London. All helping to make the meeting such a great success.

The Provincial Prior R. E. Kt. Roger Smith carried out the ceremony for the investiture of the new Provincial Sub Prior E.Kt. Graham Elvidge PG Herald. The Provincial Prior warmly thanked the outgoing Sub Prior E.Kt. Mark Harrison for his service over the last three years.

The Active officers for the year were appointed and invested by the Provincial Prior along with those Knights receiving their first honours and promotions.

The Provincial Bodyguard entertained the gathering with an excellent rendition and display of the 'Silent Drill' under the guidance of the Bodyguard Commander E.Kt. Peter Dawson which was warmly received by all those attending.

The Provincial Prior reported that the new Provincial 'Centenary Fund' was coming along extremely well and had now reached the excellent sum of £27000. The Prior took the opportunity of presenting 'Patron Certificates' to those Preceptories that had achieved Patron status.

The new Individual Patron scheme was progressing well with 100 Knights having taken the opportunity to join the scheme and wear the 'Patrons Collaret' with pride.

Following the success of the limited edition cufflinks, it was announced that the latest Commemorative item, the 'Firing Sword Holder' was about to be launched and nearly 100 had been forward ordered.

The Prior thanked Kt. David Ford of Maplested Preceptory who has designed and made the items, for his generosity in bearing the cost of both materials and labour to enable the Fund to retain fully the £5000 profit it will produce on the sales.

During the Provincial Priors address he informed the Knights of the great success the Province has had over the last year and of the enthusiasm shown by the Knights when attending Preceptory visits, visits to other Provinces and the attendance at the Provincial Preceptory of Improvement which is the envy of many other Provinces.

He told the Knights that they should be proud of the enthusiasm, drive, passion and dedication that they show to the order in Essex, as he indeed is proud of them.

He announced that the Province would be making a further donation of £3000 to the St. John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital.

Following the recession from the meeting, the Knights of the Province along with the guests enjoyed drinks followed by a very enjoyable Luncheon.

The day had lived up to the Provincial Priors watch words of the Order in Essex – Friendship, Fellowship and fun.