Former biker from Gedney Hill prepares for holy event as part of role as Templar

A former biker who changed gear and found his religion is preparing for a special holy march.

Brother John Michael, of Gedney Hill, joined a motorcycle group in the hope it would be a good way to meet like-minded people and build friendships.

However, when violence became a focal point, John left the group during the 90s and became a Templar with Templar Today. He said: “I became longing for the camaraderie but not the violence.

“I have recently been confirmed at Lincoln Cathedral by the Bishop, Steven Conway.

“Christianity has fallen drastically in Great Britain – largely due to an age-old perception that only old people attend church and it is a cold and unfriendly place.

“We embrace everyone who comes to the Temple, and we have a motto we use in every greeting which is ‘Non-Nobis’ which translates to Not for Us.

“Christ said the church is everywhere and his father made everything.

“We do all we can to help others and are not afraid to sit on the floor with someone who is down and out just to give him some humanity back.”

The Knights Templar were a religious military order which were originally founded to protect Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land.

As part of his first point of duty, John was required to stand guard on the Holy Door at St Peters Basilica in Italy.

John added: “We were expected to be very vigilant to who was entering the Basilica and in any event the Templars are considered a military association and protect all worshipers.

“By the end of the evening almost 5,000 pilgrims entered the facility to take Holy Mass.

“There was such a rich mixture of faiths and age groups. The atmosphere was very happy and all who attended were the perfect guests.”

John is set to return to the Vatican City from May 1 to May 12, where he will join close to 1,000 other Templars in full traditional uniform to silently march through all of the holy doors in the Basilicas of Rome and around the city.

Believers and non-believers are also welcome to experience a replica of a burial cloth – which is said to have been used to wrap the body of Jesus following his Crucifixion.

The Shroud of Turin has already been on display at St Wulfram’s Church in Grantham and will be at St John’s Church in Barnack from May 17 to May 18 and Crowland Abbey from August 4 to August 10.

John added: “The whole of Lincolnshire was owned by the brother of our second Master Robert de Craon 1136-1149.

“Much of Lincolnshire was owned by the Templars over time from a small farm in Gedney Hill to the main training ground for Templar Knights at Temple Bruer – of which we are about to look after and renovate its last remaining tower under the direction of Heritage England.”