L’ordre du Temple
The Order Today
Mission
In 1705, the Order of the Temple (OT) was made public in France under Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, the future Regent of France.
The Christian imperative to protect life
At the heart of the Christian faith lies a profound reverence for human life. The Bible consistently emphasizes the sanctity of life and the importance of protecting the vulnerable. In the maritime context, this translates into a moral obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of seafarers, who often face perilous conditions and risks while fulfilling their duties.
The OT’s dedication to maritime security directly reflects this Christian imperative to protect life. By advocating for robust safety measures, promoting effective training programs, and supporting initiatives that mitigate risks at sea, the OT actively contributes to the preservation of human life in the maritime domain. This commitment aligns with the biblical mandate to love one’s neighbor and care for those in need.
Stewardship of God’s creation
Another fundamental Christian principle that underpins the OT’s maritime security mission is the concept of stewardship. Christians believe that God has entrusted humanity with the responsibility to care for and protect the natural world. The oceans, as a vital part of God’s creation, deserve our utmost respect and attention.
The OT’s focus on maritime security extends beyond the protection of human life to encompass the preservation of the marine environment. By promoting sustainable practices, advocating for responsible resource management, and supporting initiatives that combat pollution and environmental degradation, the OT actively fulfills its role as a steward of God’s creation. This commitment aligns with the biblical call to be good stewards of the earth and its resources.
Christian values
The Order of the Temple’s commitment to maritime security is not merely a secular pursuit but a reflection of its deep-rooted Christian values and principles. By protecting human life, and caring for God’s creation, the OT’s maritime security mission embodies the core teachings of the Christian faith.
As a religious order, OT’s work in the maritime domain is a testament to the enduring relevance of Christian values in addressing contemporary challenges. The OT’s example demonstrates how faith can inspire and inform practical action to promote peace, justice, and well-being in the world.
Hybrid and decentralized operational structure
In adapting to the multifaceted and dynamic nature of the maritime domain, the OT has adopted a hybrid and decentralized operational structure. This modern approach allows for greater flexibility and effectiveness in our mission to enhance maritime security. Consequently, the Order engages with various partners and stakeholders through a network of specialized entities and initiatives that may operate under distinct names. This strategic methodology ensures that our foundational Christian principles are applied with precision and cultural sensitivity across a wide spectrum of maritime security challenges, reflecting a unified purpose through diverse, yet coordinated, actions.
History
Part 1
General Overview & Modern Mission
L’ordre du Temple (Order of the Temple, or OT) was made public in France in 1705 by Philippe II, Duke of Orléans. An important personality in the revival of Templar history was Sir Andrew Michael Ramsay Bt FRS. Leaving England for Holland in 1709, he soon moved to Cambrai, France.
In December 1737, when Charles Radcliffe, Jacobite 5th Earl of Derwentwater, was elected Grand Master of the Jacobite lodge in Paris, he worked with Ramsay to transform the Jacobite lodges into an order of chivalry. Derwentwater’s new office was celebrated by Ramsay in an oration that recounted the medieval chivalric origins and mystical-Jewish themes of Écossais Masonry.
Among Prince Charles Edward Stuart‘s seven companions on his perilous journey to Scotland in 1745 was George Kelly, whom Ramsay had chosen to translate his Masonic oration for English publication. Privy to Ramsay’s most mystical and chivalric Masonic beliefs, Kelly became one of Charles Edward’s closest advisers. After the Prince’s triumphant arrival in Edinburgh, he participated in a Masonic ceremony in Holyrood Palace.
On 30 September 1745, the Duke of Perth wrote Lord Ogilvy of “a solemn chapter of the ancient order of chivalry of the Temple of Jerusalem,” when only “ten knights were present, for since my Lord Mar demitted the office of G Master, no general meeting has been called, save in your own North Convent.” The Prince “looked most gallantly in the white robe of the order, took his profession like a worthy knight, and … did vow that he would restore the Temple higher than it was in the days of William the Lyon.” Then “Lord Athol did demit as Regent, and his Rl Highness was elected G Master. I write you knowing how you love the order” (Le Monde Maçonnique des Lumières, eds. Charles Porset and Cécile Révauger. Paris: Honoré Champion, 2013).
The order was officially reconstituted in 1804 by Dr. Bernard-Raymond Fabré-Palaprat, chevalier of the Legion of Honour, who used the Larmenius Charter (preserved at Mark Masons Hall, London) as evidence of its pedigree. The Larmenius Charter is a coded document detailing the transfer of leadership of the Knights Templar to Jean Marc Larmenius after the death of Jacques de Molay (1248–1314). It lists 22 successive Grand Masters after De Molay, ending in 1804, with Fabré-Palaprat last on the list. Larmenius was a Palestinian-born Christian who joined the Order during the waning years of the Crusades and served as Templar Preceptor on Cyprus. The Charter traces the Order through a dark period until its semi-private unveiling at the Convent General at Versailles in 1705 by Philippe II, Duke of Orléans. Sir George Warner, D.Litt., FBA, FSA (1845–1936), Keeper of Manuscripts and Egerton Librarian at the British Museum, determined the Latin to be of the fourteenth century, consistent with the Charter’s claims, and the illumination to date from the second part of the fifteenth century (Moseley Brown, W. (2003) [1944], “Theories of Masonic Templar Origins,” Highlights of Templar History, The Book Tree, p. 54, ISBN 9781585092307; Clausen, D.J. (2021) Succession 1307–1804: Re-Examining the Larmenius Charter).
The Order was approved by Napoleon in 1811 and recognized by Napoleon III in 1853. Notable members included Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith, GCB, GCTE, KmstkSO, FRS (1764–1840); Charles Tennyson d’Eyncourt (1784–1861); Prince Augustus-Frederick, Duke of Sussex (1773–1843); Dom Pedro I, Emperor of Brazil (1798–1834); and the Duke of Choiseul-Stainville, peer of France (1760–1838).
The Ordre du Temple was administered by the Martinist KvMRiS lodge in Brussels (a branch of the Groupe indépendant d’études ésotériques de Paris) from 1894 until it was registered as OSMTJ in 1932. During WWII the order’s records were transferred to Portugal, where they were kept by Dom Antonio Campelo Pinto de Sousa Fontes (1878–1960).
In the 1930s, Swiss national Anton O.E. Leuprecht-Rapp of 10 Rue Bonivard, Geneva, was admitted and given permission by Dom Antonio to establish Autonomous Grand Priories throughout the world. Leuprecht-Rapp was also Grandmaster of the Grand Orient Maçonnique Martiniste Suisse.
The independent Grand Priory in Switzerland was formed in 1937 (biography File 816 – Leuprecht-Rapp, A., Batchinsky Collection, Carleton University Library) and is legally structured as a Swiss Verein (art. 60 Swiss Civil Code). The statutes were modernized in 2017 by Dom Antonio’s son, Dom Fernando Pinto Pereira de Sousa Fontes (1929–2018). The financial operations of the Priory are conducted through a Dutch private foundation, established in 1991, with a power of attorney from Dom Fernando.
The historical continuity of the Order rests with Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, who inherited the legacy of the Counts of Champagne — instrumental in the Order’s formation — upon the merger of the House of Champagne with the French crown in 1317.
Part 2
Historical Analysis & Juridical Foundation
The historiography of the Ordre du Temple operates within a unique intersection of medieval history, dynastic law, and 18th-century revivalism. Unlike the medieval Pauperum Commilitonum Christi Templique Salomonici, suppressed by the papal bull Vox in excelso in 1312, the modern Ordre du Temple traces a distinct trajectory of public re-emergence and state recognition.
Research question: To what extent can the modern Ordre du Temple claim a verifiable institutional and dynastic continuity with its medieval and Enlightenment predecessors through the mechanisms of political patronage and the hereditary transmission of the Stuart legacy?
The original Order was founded around 1119 in Jerusalem by Hugh de Payens, a nobleman from the Champagne region, with eight companions. They were granted quarters in the Al-Aqsa Mosque (the Temple of Solomon) by King Baldwin II. Following the loss of the Holy Land, the Order fell victim to the political machinations of King Philip IV of France.
Recent historiographical developments have reshaped the understanding of the Order’s termination. In September 2001, Italian paleographer Barbara Frale (b. 1970) discovered the Chinon Parchment in the Vatican Secret Archives (Archivum Arcis Armarium D 218). This document explicitly confirms that in August 1308, Pope Clement V granted absolution to Grand Master Jacques de Molay and other leaders, effectively neutralizing the charges of heresy. A parchment dated 20 August 1308, addressed to Philip IV, stated that absolution had been granted to all Templars who had confessed, restoring them “to the Sacraments and to the unity of the Church.“
The Question of Continuity: 1314–1705
The “missing” statutes of 1596–1695
The traditional narrative often leaps from the execution of Jacques de Molay in 1314 directly to the Regency of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, in 1705. Recent archival research, however, has challenged this “gap” theory. Investigations into the French National Archives have revealed catalog entries for Statutes of the Order of the Temple dating to 1596, 1693, and 1695. Although the physical documents are missing, their catalogue presence suggests a structured continuity well before the 1705 “revival” — likely under the Duke of Duras (1625–1704), whose signature appears on the Order’s Charter of Transmission during the period of the “Petite Résurrection des Templiers” (see Clausen, Daniel J. Templar Succession: Establishing Continuity 1307–Present, 2021).
Jacques de Molay (c. 1244–1314)
The foundational martyr of the Order’s lineage. Born between 1244 and 1250 in Molay, Haute-Saône, he entered the Order at the Commandery of Beaune in 1265. As the 23rd Grand Master, he refused to merge the Templars with the Hospitallers. His execution by burning on the Île des Juifs in Paris on 18 March 1314 was an act of royal vengeance by Philip IV.
Johannes Marcus Larmenius (c. 1260s–c. 1324)
According to the Order’s internal history, Larmenius was a Palestinian-born Christian who became Templar Preceptor on Cyprus. Following the arrest of de Molay, he purportedly maintained the clandestine structure of the Order. In February 1324 he drafted the Carta Transmissionis (Larmenius Charter) to transfer the Grand Mastership to Franciscus Theobaldus of Alexandria.
Jacques-Henri de Durfort, Duke of Duras (1625–1704)
Jacques-Henri de Durfort, 1st Duke of Duras and Marshal of France, anchors the Order’s continuity in the late 17th century. Born in 1625, he was a distinguished military commander under Louis XIV. His family acquired the fief of Duras in the 14th century through marriage to the niece of Pope Clement V — the pontiff who suppressed the Templars — a historical irony that placed the “custody” of the Order in the family of its suppressor. His tenure as Grand Master (1681–1704) aligns with the “missing statutes” of 1695.
The Regency Revival & the Statutes of 1705
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (1674–1723)
In 1705 the Order was “made public” in France under Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, the future Regent of France. Born in 1674, Philippe was the nephew of Louis XIV. He inherited the legacy of the Counts of Champagne, the family instrumental in the Order’s original formation. Under his Grand Mastership, the Convent General of Versailles enacted the Statuts des chevaliers de l’ordre du Temple, transforming the Order from a monastic fraternity into a secular order of chivalry.
The Jacobite Intersection & Ramsay’s Influence
The 18th-century evolution of the Order was heavily influenced by the Jacobite cause. A central intellectual figure was Sir Andrew Michael Ramsay.
Sir Andrew Michael Ramsay (1686–1743)
Born in Ayr, Scotland, in 1686, Ramsay was the son of a baker. Raised a Calvinist, he left England for Holland in 1709, then moved to Cambrai, France, where he was converted to Catholicism by the mystic Archbishop Fénelon (1651–1715). Ramsay later served as secretary to Madame Guyon (1648–1717), a co-founder of Quietism. In Paris he was admitted to the Order of St. Lazarus by the Duke of Orléans. In 1723 the “Old Pretender” (James III) granted him a certificate of nobility. Ramsay’s famous 1737 Oration linked the Freemasons to the “Crusader Knights,” providing the intellectual bridge between the Jacobite diaspora and Templar revivalism.
Charles Radcliffe, 5th Earl of Derwentwater (1693–1746)
In December 1737, Charles Radcliffe, the Jacobite 5th Earl of Derwentwater, was elected Grand Master of the Jacobite lodge in Paris. Born in 1693, Radcliffe was an ardent Jacobite who had escaped from Newgate Prison in 1716. He worked with Ramsay to transform the Jacobite lodges into an order of chivalry. He was captured during the 1745 rising and beheaded at Tower Hill in 1746.
The Holyrood chapter (1745)
The operational fusion of the Order and the Jacobite cause occurred during the Rising of 1745. George Kelly (c. 1680–1762), an Irish clergyman and one of the Seven Men of Moidart — the seven followers who accompanied Charles Edward Stuart at the start of his 1745 attempt to reclaim the thrones of Great Britain and Ireland for the House of Stuart — was a close advisor to Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Kelly had been chosen by Ramsay to translate his Oration for English publication.
On 30 September 1745, the Duke of Perth (James Drummond, 1713–1746) wrote to Lord Ogilvy (David Ogilvy, 1725–1803) regarding a “solemn chapter of the ancient order of chivalry of the Temple of Jerusalem” held at Holyrood Palace. Only ten knights were present because, “since my Lord Mar (John Erskine, 1675–1732) demitted the office of Grand Master, no general meeting has been called.”
At this meeting, Prince Charles Edward Stuart (“Bonnie Prince Charlie”) “looked most gallantly in the white robe of the order… and did vow that he would restore the Temple higher than it was in the days of William the Lyon.” Lord Atholl (William Murray, 1689–1746) then demitted as Regent, and the Prince was elected Grand Master.
The Congress of Wilhelmsbad (1782)
The Jacobite–Templar synthesis influenced Freemasonry until the Congress of Wilhelmsbad in 1782. Chaired by Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, the congress concluded that Freemasonry was not the successor to the Knights Templar, causing many Masonic Templar degrees to fade, while the non-Masonic Ordre du Temple continued its distinct lineage (Heckethorn, Charles William, The Secret Societies of All Ages and Countries, Vol. 2, George Redway, 1897).
The Larmenius Charter: Constitutional Authority
The legitimacy of the post-1314 Order rests on the Carta Transmissionis, or Larmenius Charter (preserved at Mark Masons Hall, London). This coded Latin document details the transfer of the Grand Mastership from De Molay to Larmenius in 1314 and lists 22 successors ending in 1804 (Clausen, Daniel J., The Charter of Larmenius and the Avignon Decree of 1326, Academia.edu, 2021).
Authentication: Sir George Warner (1845–1936)
Sir George Frederic Warner (1845–1936), Keeper of Manuscripts at the British Museum and Fellow of the British Academy, examined the original document. He determined the Latin script to be of the 14th century and the illumination to date from the mid-15th century. This expert analysis contradicts 19th-century claims that the Charter was a forgery created for the 1804 revival (Moseley Brown, W. (2003) [1944], “Theories of Masonic Templar Origins,” Highlights of Templar History, The Book Tree, p. 54, ISBN 9781585092307; Clausen, D.J. (2021) Succession 1307–1804: Re-Examining the Larmenius Charter).
The Imperial Restoration (1804–1870)
Bernard-Raymond Fabré-Palaprat (1773–1838)
The Order was officially reconstituted in 1804 by Dr. Bernard-Raymond Fabré-Palaprat. Born in 1773 in Cordes-sur-Ciel, he was the son of a surgeon and originally ordained a priest before becoming a physician. A Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, he received the July Medal for his actions during the 1830 Revolution and served as Grand Master until his death in 1838 (see Deprouw, Stéphanie, “Un héritage des Bonaparte : Le prix du galvanisme (1802–1815) et le prix Volta (1852–1888),” École nationale des chartes, 2008).
Philippe Ledru (1754–1832)
Fabré-Palaprat founded the Order with Philippe Ledru, son of the physician to the Duke of Cossé-Brissac (the last Grand Master before the Revolution). Ledru claimed to have acquired the Larmenius Charter from the Duke’s furniture, providing the physical link to the pre-1792 Order (see Jean-Pierre Chantin, “Fabré-Palaprat Bernard-Raymond,” Dictionnaire du monde religieux dans la France contemporaine, p. 90, Éditions Beauchesne, 2001).
Imperial recognition
Napoleon I approved the Order in 1811 (Ordre du Temple, anniversaire du martyre, 1er avril 1832) and authorized a solemn ceremony in 1808 to honour Jacques de Molay. Later, Napoleon III granted the Order recognition as a Sovereign Power by Imperial Decree on 13 June 1853.
Notable members
- Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith (1764–1840): the “Hero of Acre,” who received a Templar Cross from the Greek Archbishop and served as Regent of the Order after Fabré-Palaprat.
- Duke of Choiseul-Stainville (1760–1838): Claude-Antoine-Gabriel de Choiseul, Peer of France and aide-de-camp to Louis-Philippe.
- Prince Augustus-Frederick, Duke of Sussex (1773–1843): sixth son of George III and Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of England.
- Charles Tennyson d’Eyncourt (1784–1861): British politician and uncle of Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
- Dom Pedro I (1798–1834): Emperor of Brazil and King of Portugal (as Pedro IV). He accepted the title of First Knight of Honour and authorized his minister to become titular Grand Prior of Brazil.
The 20th Century: Martinist Connection & Preservation
The Martinist interlude (1894–1932)
Following the decline of the French Regency under Dr. A.G.M. Vernois (who deposited the archives in the National Archives in 1871) and Joséphin Péladan (Regent 1892–1894), the administration of the Order transferred to Belgium. From 1894 it was managed by the Secretariat International des Templiers within the Martinist lodge KvMRiS (KUMRIS) in Brussels. Key figures included Francis Vurgey, Nicolas Brossel, and Le Clément de Saint-Marcq (Van Arenbergh, Emile, “Le Clément de Saint-Marcq, Philippe-Auguste-Joseph,” Biographie Nationale, vol. 11, Emile Bruylant, 1890, p. 577).
1932 registration and the war years
On 19 January 1932, the Order was registered in Brussels as the Ordre Souverain et Militaire du Temple de Jérusalem (OSMTJ). The recording members were Joseph Cleeremans, Gustave Jonckbloedt, and Théodore Covias (who served as Regent in 1935).
Emile-Isaac Vandenberg (1895–1943)
Emile Clément Joseph Isaac Vandenberg succeeded Covias as Regent. Born in Mechelen in 1895, he was a furniture manufacturer of Jewish descent (using his wife’s surname, Vandenberg, for protection). To save the Order during the Nazi occupation, he issued a decree in 1942 transferring the archives and Grand Mastership to the neutral Grand Prior of Portugal. He died in a suspicious car accident near Antwerp in 1943, widely believed to be an assassination by the Gestapo.
Dom Antonio Campelo Pinto de Sousa Fontes (1878–1960)
The recipient of the archives was Dom Antonio Campelo Pinto de Sousa Fontes, Grand Prior of Portugal. After the war he assumed the title of Prince Regent and Grand Master. Upon his death in 1960 he was succeeded by his son, Dom Fernando Pinto Pereira de Sousa Fontes (1929–2018).
Anton O.E. Leuprecht-Rapp
In 1937, Anton O.E. Leuprecht-Rapp, a Swiss national living in Geneva, was admitted to the Order. He was also Grand Master of the Grand Orient Maçonnique Martiniste Suisse. Dom Antonio granted him permission to establish autonomous Grand Priories, leading to the formation of the independent Grand Priory of Switzerland. He is noted in the Batchinsky Collection of the Carleton University Library for involvement in international arms deals in 1949.
Modern Governance & Dynastic Legitimacy
The modern Ordre du Temple, operating under a Grand Priory, adheres to the historical precedents of 1705 and 1853. It is distinct from the various OSMTH factions that emerged in the late 20th century: it maintains a historical legitimation rooted in the verifiable Stuart dynastic heritage rather than the 1945 formation by Fontes, and it pursues a specialized professional purpose focused on maritime security expertise rather than general fraternalism. The Grand Priory recognizes Jacques de Molay (1248–1314) as the sole, last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, and makes a moral and ethical claim to follow the same spiritual path as the original Order.
The genealogical continuity of the Order’s leadership ensures that the modern Order retains a legitimate historical link to the Jacobite Grand Masters, independent of later 20th-century administrative creations.
Mission and council
The Order operates as an expert group focused on maritime security and supports St. Michael’s Abbey in Farnborough, founded in 1880 by Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III — maintaining the historical bond with the dynasty that recognized the Order in 1853.
Legal status
The Ordre du Temple holds official legal personality as a recognized religious institution under the laws of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, sharing the same legal status as the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches.
References
Primary sources
Chinon Parchment (1308). Vatican Secret Archives.
Larmenius, J. M. (1324). Carta Transmissionis. Mark Masons Hall, London.
Statuts des chevaliers de l’ordre du Temple (1705).
Ramsay, A. M. (1737). Oration.
Secondary literature
Clausen, D. J. (2021). Succession 1307–1804: Re-Examining the Larmenius Charter.
Clausen, D. J. (2021). Verifying the Continuation of the French Ordre du Temple and the OSMTJ.
Frale, B. (2004). “The Chinon chart – Papal absolution to the last Templar.” Journal of Medieval History.
Roggemans, M. (2010). Geschiedenis van de occulte en mystieke broederschappen.
Warner, G. F. (n.d.). Authentication of the Larmenius Charter. British Museum.
Part Nine
Conclusion: Research Findings
The diachronic analysis supports the thesis that the Ordre du Temple maintained a form of “dynastic continuity” bridging the apparent historical gaps between 1314, 1705, and the modern era. This survival was achieved not through a seamless public bureaucracy, but through the mechanism of proprietary patronage.
- Dynastic preservation: the “gap” years were bridged by families such as the Durfort-Duras, whose link to Clement V allowed the Order to persist as a semi-private aristocratic sodality.
- The Stuart legitimacy: the legitimacy of the current Grand Priory resolves the tension between the Order’s Jacobite origins and its modern existence. By tracing the lineage through the Earls of Dunbar — confirmed by the Stuart monarch Charles II — the Order secured a transnational legal personality that transcends later political upheavals.
- Institutional distinctiveness: unlike Masonic bodies, the Ordre du Temple consistently operated under a distinct charter (Larmenius) and royal recognition (Napoleon I, Napoleon III). The modern leadership, anchored in the Dunbar lineage and operating through valid legal structures, validates the Order’s claim to be a historical institution adapted to the modern world.
Outreach
Charity
Supporting the Monks of St. Michael’s Abbey, Farnborough
St. Michael’s Abbey in Farnborough, England, stands as a unique beacon of faith and scholarship. Founded in 1880 by Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, the Abbey carries a rich heritage of prayer, study, and service. Crushed by the loss of her husband in 1873 and the death of her son in 1879, Empress Eugénie built St Michael’s Abbey as a monastery and the Imperial Mausoleum. The arrival of the French Benedictine community in 1895 further enriched the Abbey’s legacy. Napoleon III was one of the first monarchs who recognized our Order. Due to the historical ties between our Order and Napoleon III, we feel a strong connection to St. Michael’s Abbey.
We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, regardless of background or belief. Through self-improvement, ethical conduct, and a commitment to learning, we strive to build a more just and compassionate world. We value intellectual curiosity, honest communication, and responsible action. By working together in a spirit of fellowship and mutual respect, we aim to leave a positive legacy for future generations. Our members are encouraged to follow these core values and principles and implement them in their daily lives.
Individual path
We believe that a life guided by these principles extends beyond membership. Just as a single stone strengthens a wall, each individual who embodies these values strengthens the fabric of our communities. We encourage our members to be active citizens, promoting these ideals through their actions and interactions in their workplaces, families, and broader social circles. By collectively striving for a more just, compassionate, and informed world, we can create a lasting impact that transcends generations.
Core Values
Stewardship: We acknowledge the historical and spiritual significance of St. Michael’s Abbey and its role as the National Shrine of St. Joseph. We are committed to responsible stewardship, ensuring the Abbey’s physical and spiritual legacy thrives for generations to come.
Sustainability: We believe in supporting the Abbey’s long-term sustainability. This includes fostering a welcoming environment for pilgrims and visitors, while ensuring the well-being and spiritual growth of the monastic community.
Respectful Collaboration: We recognize and value the Benedictine tradition and its emphasis on prayer, work, and hospitality. We strive to collaborate with the monks in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding.
Areas of Support
Financial Support: We encourage and facilitate financial contributions to the Abbey, ensuring the monks have the resources needed to maintain the Abbey, continue their monastic life, and fulfil their mission.
Volunteer Engagement: We promote volunteer opportunities that assist the monks in various tasks, allowing them to focus on their core spiritual practices and studies.
Responsible Pilgrimage: We encourage respectful pilgrimages to the National Shrine of St. Joseph, fostering a prayerful environment and supporting the Abbey’s role as a spiritual destination.
Cultural Appreciation: We promote awareness and appreciation for the Abbey’s rich history and contribution to the cultural landscape of England.
By adhering to this ethical policy statement, we aim to foster a collaborative and supportive relationship with the monks of St. Michael’s Abbey. Our commitment extends to ensuring the Abbey’s enduring legacy as a place of prayer, scholarship, and spiritual growth for the benefit of the monastic community and the wider community it serves.
The Organisation
Legal Status & Contact
l’ordre du Temple. Focusing on maritime security, the Order holds official legal personality as a recognized religious institution under the laws of the Kingdom of The Netherlands (registration number 42078675).
The OT’s commitment to maritime security is not merely a secular pursuit but a reflection of its deep-rooted Christian values and principles. By protecting human life, caring for God’s creation, serving others, and facilitating the spread of the Gospel and humanitarian aid, the OT’s maritime security mission embodies the core teachings of the Christian faith.
The modern OT is an oecumenical religious order of knights, and its work in the maritime domain is a testament to the enduring relevance of Christian values in addressing contemporary challenges. The OT demonstrates how faith can inspire and inform practical action to promote peace, justice, and well-being in the world.
Ordre du Temple
- Visit: Het Pelgrimshys, Grotekerksbuurt 13A, Dordrecht
- Postal address: Postbus 26, NL-3300 AA Dordrecht
- gp@ordredutemple.fr
- Chamber of Commerce: 42078675