Structure & Governance

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“Let all things be done with obedience, humility and in service to Christ.”

The Templar Knights Albion is a non-political Christian chivalric Order whose structure draws inspiration from the principles of fraternity, obedience, service and disciplined common life found within the Latin Rule, or Primitive Rule, formally established for the Knights Templar at the Council of Troyes in 1129.

The medieval Order developed a clear structure of spiritual life, communal governance and appointed responsibility. While our modern Order does not seek to recreate medieval institutions, we preserve these foundational principles in a form appropriate to our mission today.

Within the Order, office is understood as service. Authority carries responsibility: to uphold the Christian character of the Order, safeguard its integrity, care for its brothers and sisters, and ensure that its work is undertaken faithfully and honourably.

Authority Through Service

The structure of Templar Knights Albion exists not to elevate individuals, but to enable the Order to fulfil its Christian mission.

From the Spiritual Protector and Grand Master to the newest member of a Commandery, each person has a place within the fraternity and a responsibility towards their brothers and sisters.

Inspired by the ancient Rule of the Temple, we understand obedience not as the surrender of conscience, but as disciplined service within a Christian community; leadership not as privilege, but as responsibility; and knighthood not merely as an honour, but as a vocation.

One Faith. One Fraternity. One Mission.

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy Name give the glory. Psalm 115:1

Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. Psalm 115:1

Spiritual Protector

The Right Reverend Bishop Damien Mead

GCTH, KMS, KStG, DipTh, HonDD, FVCM(Th), HonFDipRS, MSGB, MIoD.

The Spiritual Protector provides episcopal and spiritual guidance to the Order and acts as a guardian of its Christian character and religious mission.

The office stands apart from the ordinary administrative chain of command. The Spiritual Protector offers pastoral counsel and spiritual guidance to the Grand Master, Grand Chaplain and wider Order, helping ensure that our activities remain firmly rooted in the Christian faith.

The relationship reflects an important principle of the historic Templar vocation:

"The sword was never intended

to stand apart from the Cross."

Governance of the Order

"To lead within the Order is first to serve it."

Grand Master

Magnus Magister

Michael Smales

The Grand Master is the principal temporal officer and head of the Order.

Drawing inspiration from the historic office of Magister within the medieval Knights Templar, the Grand Master bears responsibility for the leadership, unity, good governance and mission of the Order.

The Grand Master presides over the Order and its Chapter, appoints or confirms officers in accordance with its governing provisions, and ensures that its activities remain faithful to its Christian foundations, Constitution and Rule.

The office should never be regarded merely as the highest honour within the Order. It carries the greatest obligation of service, stewardship and accountability.

Seneschal

Senescallus

Lee Wilson

The Seneschal is the principal senior officer supporting the Grand Master and the administration of the Order.

Historically, the Seneschal was among the most senior officials of the medieval Temple and assisted the Master in the government and administration of the Order.

Within Templar Knights Albion, the Seneschal supports the Grand Master in coordinating the work of the Order, maintaining good governance and ensuring that decisions of the leadership and Chapter are carried into effect.

Where required by the governing provisions of the Order, the Seneschal may act on behalf of the Grand Master.

Spiritual Life of the Order

Grand Chaplain

Magnus Capellānus

Rev'd Fr John Warwick

The Grand Chaplain has particular responsibility for the spiritual and devotional life of the Order.

Working under the spiritual guidance of the Spiritual Protector and alongside the Grand Master, the Grand Chaplain promotes prayer, worship, Christian formation and pastoral care throughout the Templar fraternity.

The Grand Chaplain helps ensure that ceremony is accompanied by genuine faith and that the outward traditions of Christian chivalry remain rooted in the Gospel.

The office may also provide guidance to other Chaplains serving within the Order and support members in maintaining the rhythm of prayer and Christian service encouraged by our Rule.

Ceremonial Order, Protocol & Discipline

Sergeant-at-Arms

Serviens ad Arma

Tony Linley

The Sergeant-at-Arms supports the good order and ceremonial life of the Order, helping ensure that meetings, ceremonies and official gatherings are conducted with dignity, discipline and respect for established protocol.

Working with the Grand Master, Seneschal and other appointed officers, the Sergeant-at-Arms assists with ceremonial arrangements, processions, regalia and the orderly conduct of members during official occasions.

The role reflects the Order’s principles of service, discipline, fellowship and respect, helping preserve the dignity and traditions of Templar Knights Albion.

Administration & Support

Chapter Treasurer

Thesaurarius Capituli

Alan Pearson

The Chapter Treasurer is entrusted with the financial stewardship of the Order and its Chapter.

The Treasurer maintains appropriate financial records, oversees income and expenditure, assists with budgets and financial reporting, and helps ensure that the resources entrusted to the Order are administered responsibly and transparently.

Working within the Chapter, the Treasurer supports sound financial governance and provides appropriate financial information to assist the leadership in its stewardship and decision-making.

This responsibility reflects the Christian principle of stewardship: the resources of the Order exist to support its mission rather than individual benefit.

Chapter Secretary

Secretarius Capituli

Aaron Holmes-Doyle

The Chapter Secretary supports the orderly administration, governance and record keeping of the Order and its Chapter.

Responsibilities may include maintaining minutes and official records, issuing notices and correspondence, supporting meetings of the Chapter, maintaining appropriate membership documentation and assisting the Grand Master, Seneschal and other officers with the administration of the Order.

Through careful record keeping, the Chapter Secretary helps preserve the accountability, continuity and institutional memory of Templar Knights Albion.

IT Administrator

Digital systems, website and technical support

David Yates

The IT Administrator supports the Order through the management and development of its digital systems, website and online resources.

Working with the Grand Master, Seneschal and other appointed officers, the role helps maintain secure and reliable digital services, provides technical support, and supports the Order’s online presence.

Through this work, the IT Administrator helps advance the Order’s Christian, charitable, historical and administrative mission.

Social Media Officer

Public Engagement & Digital Communications

Vacant - Contact us to apply - All interest welcome!

The Social Media Officer supports the public mission of the Order by managing and developing its social media presence.

Working with the Grand Master, Seneschal, IT Administrator and other appointed officers, the role promotes the Order’s Christian faith, charitable work, history, ceremonies and activities to the wider public.

The Social Media Officer helps maintain a consistent and dignified online presence, ensuring content reflects the values, traditions and mission of Templar Knights Albion.

The Chapter

Capitulum

The Chapter embodies the principle that the Order is a fraternity united by a common Rule rather than simply a hierarchy of individual officers.

The tradition of meeting in Chapter has deep roots within the religious orders of the medieval Church and formed an important part of Templar communal life.

Within Templar Knights Albion, the Chapter serves as the central governing council of the wider Order. In modern organisational terms, it may be understood as broadly comparable to a governing or executive committee, bringing together senior officers to consider matters affecting the Order as a whole.

Chapter provides a forum for governance, fellowship, accountability and collective decision-making, including consideration of the life, administration, development and mission of the Order and oversight of its wider structure.

While individual officers are entrusted with particular responsibilities, they exercise those responsibilities for the good of the whole fraternity and within the governance of the Order.

The Commandery

Preceptoria

The Commandery is a principal local expression of the Order and provides the setting in which Knights, Dames and other members share fellowship, worship, charitable activity, ceremonial life and service.

The medieval Templars established houses and preceptories across Europe which supported both their religious communities and the wider mission of the Order.

Our Commanderies continue this principle of local fraternity serving a wider mission.

In modern organisational terms, a Commandery may be understood as broadly comparable to a local or regional branch of the wider Order. Rather than governing the Order as a whole, it provides the structure through which members come together and advance its mission within their particular area.

Each Commandery operates within the authority and governance of the wider Order while maintaining the officers necessary for its effective administration and local activities.

As TKA continues to grow, we welcome interest from members who may wish to explore the establishment of a Commandery within their local area. The formation of new Commanderies provides an opportunity to strengthen local fellowship, charitable service and the wider mission of the Order.

Knights & Dames of the Order

At the heart of Templar Knights Albion are its Knights and Dames.

Membership is not simply the possession of a title or insignia.

It represents a personal commitment to the principles and Christian vocation of the Order.

Our brothers and sisters are called to pursue lives characterised by:

Faith — placing Christ at the centre of our vocation.
Obedience — respecting the Rule and legitimate governance of the Order.
Service — placing our abilities at the service of others.
Charity — supporting those in need and the charitable mission of the Order.
Fraternity — treating fellow members as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Integrity — conducting ourselves honourably both within and beyond the Order.
Humility — recognising that office, title and insignia are signs of responsibility rather than personal status.

These principles connect the modern Order with the spiritual ideals which animated the first brothers of the Temple.

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