Graves belonging to members of the Knights Templar – a mysterious holy militia that sprang up in the 12th century – have been uncovered at an English village church in one of the ‘most nationally important discoveries’ of its kind.
The medieval order, which had chapters across Europe, including in Britain, were known for their role in the Crusades and as one of the Middle Ages’ most powerful and wealthy religious organisations.
Historian Edward Spencer Dyas made the Da Vinci Code-style discovery of eight Knights Templar graves at St Mary’s Church in Enville, Staffordshire.
In Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, and the film of the same name starring Tom Hanks, Professor Robert Langdon delves beneath Rosslyn Chapel, in Scotland, in the hunt for Knights Templar treasure.
Mr Dyas now believes St Mary’s could be one of the most nationally important Templar churches in the country because of its links to ‘England’s greatest knight’ of the Middle Ages.
