ThTHE TEMPLARS

IN SOMERSET

THE TEMPLARS IN SOMERSET

The Knights Templar held a notable presence in Somerset during the medieval period, with several key estates and properties linked to their order. Established in the 12th century, the Templars were a powerful military and religious group tasked with protecting pilgrims and defending the Holy Land. In Somerset, they acquired land and built preceptories—administrative centers that supported their wider mission. These sites not only served as hubs of economic and spiritual activity but also left a lasting mark on the local landscape, with traces of their influence still visible in place names and historical records today.

TEMPLECOMBE - St. Mary's

The Knights Templar established a preceptory in Somerset to manage their extensive landholdings across the West Country. In 1185, the manor of Templecombe was granted to the Templars by Serlo FitzOdo, becoming a key site in their regional operations. Just half a mile north of the preceptory stood a Templar church, believed to have played a central role in their spiritual and communal life.

One of the most intriguing discoveries associated with the site occurred in the mid-20th century. A wooden panel, bearing the painted face of a bearded man—thought by some to depict either Jesus Christ or John the Baptist—was found in an outbuilding of a cottage at West Court, just off Templecombe High Street. Remarkably, the cottage had once housed one of the Templar chaplains, adding to the artifact's mystique and historical significance. The panel now resides in the church, offering a rare and mysterious glimpse into the legacy of the Templars in Somerset.

REDCLIFFE (TEMPLE MEAD BRISTOL) -

Temple Church, also known as Holy Cross Church, is a historic ruin in Redcliffe, Bristol, with deep ties to the Knights Templar. The church stands on the site of a former 12th-century Templar preceptory, built on land granted to the order by Robert, Earl of Gloucester, sometime before his death in 1147. The original structure was a distinctive round church, reflecting the typical architectural style of the Templars.

Though heavily damaged by bombing during World War II, the remains of the later medieval church still outline the original Templar footprint. Excavations have revealed the foundations of the round church within the existing shell, preserving a visible link to the Templars’ presence.

In medieval times, Bristol was England’s second-most important port after London—a vital hub for trade, pilgrims, and crusaders. The Templars' establishment here would have played a key role in supporting their missions abroad and managing their affairs across the region.

To Learn more about the Knights Templars in Bristol Check out our templar blog by clicking here

NORTH PETHERTON - St Mary the Virgin Church

CHEDZOY - St Mary's Church

NORTH NEWTON - St Peters Church

THURLOXTON (Thurlockstone) - St Giles Church

BECKINGTON - St Georges Church

SISTON - St Anne Syston Church

WILLITON -

The Manor of Williton: From FitzUrse to the Knights Hospitallers

Long before 1172, Reynold FitzUrse, one of the knights involved in the murder of St. Thomas Becket, gave—or possibly sold—half of his manor of Williton to the Knights Templar, likely to fund a journey to Rome and the Holy Land as penance for his role in Becket’s death.

After the suppression of the Templars in 1312, the estate passed to the Crown and, in 1332, was granted to the Knights Hospitaller. Following the dissolution of the Hospitallers in 1540, the manor once again reverted to the Crown, before being granted in 1544 to John (later Sir John) Leigh of London.

The manor itself has a fascinating history of division and occupation:

FitzUrse’s half-brother Robert FitzUrse received a small house on the estate around 1172–75.
By 1388, the manor had physically split into two houses, with distinct chambers, halls, barns, and byres.
Over the 16th and early 17th centuries, these two parts were occupied by families such as the Wyndhams, Hadleys, and Dawe, sometimes united under a single lease.

The manor likely stood on the north side of the stream southwest of Williton chapel, and buildings remained on the site as late as 1801.