Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Connecticut

05/21/2026

Save the Date
Bicentennial Celebration of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Conn., September 10 - 12, 2027.
The host hotel is the Courtyard by Marriott Cromwell
A formal Banquet will be held at the hotel on Saturday evening, September 11, 2027
Further details for this event are in the planning process

04/19/2026

Me receiving the Meritorious Service Award as the first recipient of the award in Connecticut. I sure was surprised.

02/04/2026

Temple may be a tiny little village but its history is anything but. Once known as Balantrodach, it became the Scottish headquarters of the Knights Templar in the 12th century hence the name change some years later.

The village is steeped in legend, with long-rumoured links to Rosslyn Chapel, secret Templar knowledge and even the Holy Grail. While proof is elusive, the connections of place, time and symbolism have fuelled centuries of speculation.

Quiet, atmospheric and heavy with mystery, Temple feels like a place where history is all around you - which is precisely why I made an eight minute video focused on the ancient Old Kirk you see below and a look at the village too. Following the huge interest in the shot and video of Rosslyn Chapel last week, this may be something you'll want to look below into the comments for a wee linkage!

12/06/2025

Interior photo of Rosslyn Chapel taken several years ago by Colin Myers. Copyright 2025 © Myers Photography & Design Ltd.

Just in the interests of variety, because someone asked and because I can, here is a rare glimpse INSIDE Rosslyn Chapel, captured with permission a good few years ago when I done a photoshoot for the chapel. I could rhyme off everything you can see here or, I could just let you look. Yep, let's do that.
Rosslyn Chapel looking like nowhere else on Earth can.

09/01/2024

At the Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment KT USA held during August 17 - 21, 2024 in Salt Lake City and during the session see pictured left to right all from the Northeast Department:

S.K. Stuart K. Drost, PGC Connecticut, PDC 2018 - 2021
S.K. John D. Barnes, PGC New Jersey, Department Commander 2021 - 2024
S.K. David D. Goodwin, PGC New York, Past Most Eminent Grand Master, PDC 2000 - 2003
S.K. Vincent A. Cowie, PGC Connecticut, PDC 2009 - 2012, Grand Recorder Conn.
S.K. Kenneth A. Caldwell, PGC Maine, appointed to be installed Department Commander serving 2024 - 2027

05/04/2024

Sir Knight Gail Smith receives the Grand Encampment Knight Commander of the Temple Award. The presentation was made at his home on May 3, 2024 by S.K. Vincent Cowie, Right Eminent Past Department Commander, Northeast Department, Grand Encampment KT USA. Sir Knight Gail served the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Connecticut as Right Eminent Grand Commander in 1984. Congratulations to Sir Knight Gail Smith, you have served Masonry & Templary well.