SCOTTISH KNIGHTS OF CHRIST, TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM.
ABOUT THE ANCIENT SKT ORDER.
ORDO MILITIAE CHRISTI TEMPLI HIERSOLYMITANI.
MILITARY ORDER KNIGHTS OF CHRIST, TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM.
IFA-OCMTH.
AIMS OF THE IFA-OCMTH. SKT-SMOTJ.
SCOTTISH KNIGHT TEMPLARS
SOVEREIGN MILITARY ORDER TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM.
THE COMMANDERY OF MORAVIA.
The current Commandery of Moravia was founded within the remains of Elgin Cathedral, in 1994 by this Order is still under under my Authority no others. We currently still have a few current and paid up older life members under our current Commander of Moravia who resides within Aberdeenshire. Its area comprises the Geographical area encompassed to the North of Scotland, above Tayside. It was named in Memory of one of Scotland’s unsung Hero, and Patriot of Scotland, Sir Andrew De Moray who was captured at Battle of Dunbar, son of Sir Andrew De Moray of Petty, he was released or escaped from custody and by April 1297 he had raised the whole of Moray against the English and there were large garrisons of English in the Castles of Urquhart, Forres, Nairn, Elgin and Lochindorb. Andrew raised his Standard in the Spring of 1297, this at Ormonde Castle in the Black Isle, and harassed the English garrisons in the North East. Andrews chief Lieutenant, in fact was Alexander Pilche, a prominent Burgess of Inverness of German, or Flemish origin. He it is suggested was the real force behind the uprising in the North. They formed mounted flying columns, and attacked the English at their will. The Castles of Banff, Elgin, and Inverness Castle easily fell into Andrews hands, as also did Sir Reginald le Cheyne the Kings Warden in Moray. Edward was using the; Comyns, Earls of Mar and Buchan to give his garrisons support. Wallace was effective in his cleansing actions and after his defeat and slaughter of the English Garrison of Dunottar Castle he headed North to destroy shipping in Aberdeen and onto the Spey where he linked up with Sir Andrew de Moray. Sadly no record of this meeting of the two great Scottish Guerrilla leaders exists, we do know there was immediate rapport, and from then onwards both acted as two Generals in concert. The Joint Guardians of Scotland, and the Commonwealth of Scotland.
Sir Andrew was a true Patriot who along with the Lord William Wallace fought and won the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, this against one of the most seasoned warriors of the period, and the most experienced army in all Europe. The forces under Warenne, and Cressingham amounted to about a thousand Horse, fifty thousand infantry, including Irish and Welsh troops. This also included veterans from the wars in the Holy Land and France. Sadly Sir Andrew was severely wounded during the Battle and later died of his wounds in end of October his name is on the Letter to Lubeck written in Haddington on 11th of October 1297, as Wallace signed all documents till about 18th of October these in the names of the joint Guardians of Scotland’s names. Sir Andrews Tactics and Battle sense in the North, and when he was assisting in Dundee Castle siege have really never been given the recognition by Historians that it surely deserved, and his death was a great loss to Scotland. However his Family still contributed to the final attainment of Freedom at Bannockburn in 1314. So we all as Scots must Honour his name, and also the men and women of Moray who also did their duty to their Nation of Scotland under his inspired Leadership.
Should you reside within this area, or elsewhere within Scotland and wish to learn more about Templar history and/or the present day activities of the Scottish knight Templars SKT-SMOTJ. Then please do feel free to contact us via email www.skt1@btinternet.com or contact us by post. T McGrath, 1/1 Elphin Street, Glasgow, G235JD, Scotland. 
