Popularised in the book and film series The Da Vinci Code, the Knights Templar were a mysterious holy militia that sprang up in the 12th century.
The medieval order, which had chapters across Europe, including in Britain, were known for their role in the Crusades and as one of the Middle Ages’ most powerful and wealthy religious organisations.
Now, in what has been described as one of the ‘most nationally important discoveries’ of its kind, a historian has uncovered graves belonging to members of the Knights Templar at an English village church.
Edward Spencer Dyas had already found the resting place of three members of the ancient order at St Mary’s Church in Enville, Staffordshire, but has now discovered five more 800-year-old graves.
He believes the medieval structure could be one of the most nationally important Templar churches in the country because of its links to ‘England’s greatest knight’ of the Middle Ages.
In Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, and the film of the same name starring Tom Hanks, Professor Robert Langdon delves beneath Rosslyn Chapel, in Scotland, in the hunt for Knights Templar treasure.
Interesting find: In what has been described as one of the ‘most nationally important discoveries’ of its kind, a historian has uncovered graves belonging to members of the Knights Templar at St Mary’s Church in Enville, Staffordshire
Edward Spencer Dyas had already found the resting place of three members of the ancient order at St Mary’s Church but has now discovered five more 800-year-old graves. One also includes a Crusader cross, suggesting the knight was both a Templar and a Crusader of the ancient military order
In Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code and the film of the same name starring Tom Hanks (pictured), Professor Robert Langdon delves beneath Rosslyn Chapel, in Scotland, in the hunt for Knights Templar treasure
WHO WERE THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR?
The Knights Templar were a mysterious holy militia that sprang up in the 12th century.
The medieval order were known for their role in the Crusades and as one of the Middle Ages’ most powerful and wealthy religious organisations.
A unique combination of knight and monk, the Knights Templar was made up of devout Christians tasked with providing safety to pilgrims to Jerusalem.
In 1129, the Knights were officially recognised by the Pope and by 1180 there were some 600 of them in Jerusalem, Tripoli and Antioch.
By the end of the 12th century there were thousands of Knights Templar, who accumulated considerable land, castles and spoils taken in battle.
They even bankrolled Henry II on his crusades.
The Knights Templar were a mysterious holy militia that sprang up in the 12th century (artist’s impression)
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William Marshal, the 1st Earl of Pembroke, was a jouster, warrior, diplomat and even twice de facto king who was the inspiration for Lancelot in medieval Arthurian tales and also drafted the Magna Carta.
Marshal died aged 73 in 1219 and was buried in Temple Church in London after being invested into the order of the Knights Templar on his deathbed.
At St Mary’s, the stained glass windows depict an array of coats of arms including that of the Clare family.
Marshal was married to Isabel de Clare in in a marriage arranged by King Richard I.
Another coat of arms belonged to Hugh Mortimer of Chelmarsh, who married Marshal’s granddaughter.
There is little other explanation why there would be so many Templar graves at the quaint village church, although members of the group are believed to have attached themselves to churches dedicated to St Mary the Virgin.
The church on the outskirts of the Black Country was built in the early 12th century at a time when the Templars were creating Preceptories – a type of monastery – around Britain.
Each of the graves he has uncovered features a Templar cross within double circles in a standard Templar design.
One also includes a Crusader cross, suggesting the knight was both a Templar and a Crusader of the ancient military order.
At the foot of the same grave there’s also a Templar Cross – a variation of the Jerusalem Cross – revealing the unknown knight had once been part of the Templar Order at Temple Mount, Jerusalem.
‘I believe these discoveries make Enville one of the most nationally important churches in the country,’ Mr Dyas said.
‘That’s due to its close links with William Marshall, who is considered of the greatest warriors England ever produced.
‘But there is a mystery of why an European Templar is buried at Enville and why they were secretly so prominent there.’
He believes St Mary’s Church (pictured) could be one of the most nationally important Templar churches in the country because of its links to ‘England’s greatest knight’ of the Middle Ages
Each of the graves Mr Dyas has uncovered features a Templar cross within double circles in a standard Templar design
At St Mary’s the stained glass windows depict an array of coats of arms including that of the Clare family (pictured). Isabel de Clare was married to William Marshal. Another coat of arms belonged to Hugh Mortimer of Chelmarsh, who married Marshal’s granddaughter
Mr Dyas believes that St Mary’s Church in Enville was ‘under the patronage of the Templars’
Mr Dyas’ research led him to establish that St Mary’s was built by Roger de Bermingham – a priest whose family owned all Enville land including Morfe, a medieval royal forest in neighbouring Shropshire.
‘Although records are missing it is clear the de Bermingham family built the Norman church at Enville, using Templar financing,’ he added.
‘Henry de Morfe, who held land owned by the de Berminghams, sold part of Morfe Forest to the Templars at this time, and the de Berminghams instated Roger de Bermingham as the first priest of St Mary’s Church, Enville.’
It is for this reason that Mr Dyas believes the church was ‘under the patronage of the Templars’.
As part of his research, the historian was given permission to look inside the crypt beneath the church for further clues as to its Templar origins.
The church on the outskirts of the Black Country was built in the early 12th century at a time when the Templars were creating Preceptories – a type of monastery – around Britain
Pictured is one of the Templar graves found at St Mary’s Church in Enville, Staffordshire
As part of his research, Mr Dyas was given permission to look inside the crypt beneath the church for further clues as to its Templar origin
However, despite the crypt never having been sketched or photographed before, the inspection did not reveal any further evidence, the historian added
A unique combination of knight and monk, the Knight’s Templar was made up of devout Christians tasked with providing safety to pilgrims to Jerusalem
However, despite the crypt never having been sketched or photographed before, the inspection did not reveal any further evidence, Mr Dyas added.
A unique combination of knight and monk, the wealthy medieval organisation was made up of devout Christians tasked with providing safety to pilgrims to Jerusalem.
In 1129, the Knights were officially recognised by the Pope and by 1180 there were some 600 of them in Jerusalem, Tripoli and Antioch.
By the end of the 12th century there were thousands of Knights Templar, who accumulated considerable land, castles and spoils taken in battle.
They even bankrolled Henry II on his crusades.
WHAT WERE THE CRUSADES?
The Crusades were a series of religious wars fought between 1095 and 1291, in which Christian invaders tried to claim the near East.
It’s known that nobility led the Crusades, but historical records lack details of the ordinary soldiers who travelled to, lived and died in the near East.
Pope Urban II started the First Crusade (1096–1102) in order to aid the Christian Byzantine Empire, which was under attack by Muslim Seljuk Turks.
Europeans captured Jerusalem in 1099 as a result and Muslims quickly unified against the Christian invasion.
Muslims firmly controlled Jerusalem by 1291 and it remained in Islamic hands until the twentieth century.
The Crusades set the stage for several religious knightly military orders, including the Knights Templar, the Teutonic Knights, and the Hospitallers.
These groups defended the Holy Land and protected pilgrims travelling to and from the region.
The Crusades were a series of religious wars fought between 1095 and 1291, in which Christian invaders tried to claim the near East. It’s known that nobility led the Crusades, but historical records lack details of the ordinary soldiers (file photo)
