History
In the late spring of 1999, several of the more active members of the Priory of St. Andrew living in Central Florida were contacted by Chev. Wilson T. Dreger, III, who was the Chancellor of the Priory of St. Andrew at the time. He suggested the establishment of a Commandery in Central Florida to function under the auspices of St. Andrew. The Commandery was officially stood up, with eleven members, on February 5, 2000 under the authority of the Priory of St. Andrew. The first Commander was Allan F. Keeth with Thornton "Andy" Anderson being the Chancellor.
Temple Church remained a Preceptory until it became recognized as a Commandery when it received its appointing order from the Grand Prior and was stood up at the Grand Convent by Grand Prior XVII, Keith Larson, held at West Point on June 10- 13, 2010.
The Priory of the Temple Church was stood up by at the Grand Convent held in Norcross, Georgia on May 21, 2011 by the Grand Prior, Keith Larson, with Thomas "Ted" E. Seater as its first Prior. The Priory was begun with thirty-five (35) well-motivated and excited members.
The Priory of the Temple Church is indebted to Chev. Bill Dreger, Deputy Grand Prior Region III (at the time) and Prior I, Chev. Allan Keeth, Prior II, Chev. Bill Latimore, Prior III, and Chev. Frank Smith, Prior IV, all of the Priory of The Holy Rood for their outstanding support and guidance in the creation of the Priory of the Temple Church.
