After almost seven centuries of repression, The Templar Order was brought into the modern world as a ‘Back-Patch’ organisation – a fitting expression for a group which had suffered so much at the hands of Church and State in the dark years 1307-14. Our position was unique. No other patch club consisted of both riders (Knights) and non-riders (Men-at-Arms) and while this was our strength, it also became our curse.

Good men, true to their principles and willing to ‘stand firm against the Darkness’, are always hard to find but our image of leather and patches seemed to discourage many whose presence amid our ranks would have been most welcome. Conversely, we found ourselves repeatedly subject to the approaches of those who did not hold to the Virtues of our Order but who simply wanted the easiest route to a Back-Patch - and mistakenly thought we were it. Wannabe 1%ers came to our gates from across the Western World and brought with them troubles and complications we did not – and do not – need.

And so we have Closed The Circle. We have stepped back from the Back-Patch World, hung up our hard earned ‘colours’ and returned to a purer form. From now on the Order will be recognised as it always was -  by the scarlet cross of sacrifice emblazoned upon our mantles; the white of the knight and black of the man-at-arms. Freed once more from the constraints of external authority we cast open our doors to all who would throw themselves into the struggle for a Greater Good.

We arise when we are needed most.