All Knights should make especial note of the following dates:

Sunday 3rd June 2012: KT Church Service

Saturday 8th September 2012: Sussex Provincial AGM in Brighton

Provincial Priory

The Right Eminent Provincial Prior's Bodyguard

Provincial Bodyguard
(click shield to enter) The Right Eminent Provincial Prior’s bodyguard is a ceremonial company of Knights that accompany the Provincial Prior on his official visits. They are personally invited to serve by the Provincial Prior. The origins of the bodyguard date back to the very start of the Order (it was felt that it should reflect the original Knights Templar), when a high-ranking member would travel around the Holy Land with his personally chosen and trusted bodyguard to protect him from the attacks of the infidels.

History of the Provincial Priory of Sussex

The Provincial Priory of Sussex was established on 7th March 1873, following the consecration of the second Preceptory in Sussex.

Five weeks earlier, the first Preceptory had been consecrated in Eastbourne and that Preceptory’s distinction as the first in the county was proclaimed in its chosen name, Sussex Preceptory No 125, and it has the further distinction of a separate name in the Order of Malta – The Southdown Priory.

De Warenne Preceptory No 126, consecrated in 1873, took its name from William De Warenne, with the next consecration being Holy Sepulchre Preceptory No 174 in 1902. The Preceptory of St Richard No 201 was consecrated in 1916 and Thornton Preceptory No 208 in 1990. Although consecrated in 1872, the Duke of Connaught & Strathearn’s Himalaya Preceptory No 137 moved from India to Sussex in November 1971.

During the period from 1873 until 1947, a period of some 74 years, there were only three Provincial Priors in Sussex, Major Shadwell Clark for 10 years, HRH The Duke of Connaught from 1893 to 1941 – 47 years - and Major Robert Thornton from 1941 to 1947. Both the latter two Provincial Priors can be seen to have direct connections with Preceptories that bear their names in No’s 137 and 208.

Charles H Mosse was Provincial Prior from 1957 to 1970 during which time Crux Christi Preceptory No 400 was consecrated, taking its name from his family coat of arms ‘Crux Christi Nobis Salus’. He was followed by John Forrest from 1970 to 1980 during which time three Preceptories were consecrated – Holy Cross Preceptory No 470 in 1976, Bright Morning Star Preceptory No 477 in 1976 (as a past Preceptors Preceptory) and William of Normandy Preceptory No 488 in 1979.

Under Peter Cheney as Provincial Prior (1986-2000), The Jerusalem Cross Preceptory No 571 was consecrated in 1991, and The John Forrest Preceptory No 619 in 1999. This latter Preceptory was formed as a Bodyguard Preceptory and to carry out the Malta ceremony at its November meeting.

Our current Provincial Prior, Right Eminent Knight Graham Flight, was installed in the millennium year 2000, and The Most Eminent and Supreme Grandmaster granted him a second 5 year patent to run from September 2005 and a further extension in September 2010.

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