Scotland’s Knights Templar Shame
- Mark Huitson
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
Around about the second anniversary of the publication of our book, Hidden in Plain Sight; Unmasking Scotland’s First Knights Templar, and the website, The Templar Bells of Scotland, Digger and I were faced with a continuing dilemma, in our endless assault against the bureaucratic walls of the establishment, protecting the ivory towers of academia, surrounded by the indifference of people and press to the grave misjustice we and Scottish history were facing.
Considering the nature and legend of the surrounding society, whose priorities do not necessarily include the care of its heritage, Templar or not—we knew if help was to come, it would most likely arrive from outside the region—even outside Scotland. Because, the sad fact was, as demonstrated by the systemic failure of the country’s lead heritage body over several decades, there was a lack of political and public scrutiny, or state care or competence to maintain, or even understand its heritage, or the public will or involvement to enforce its sustainability.
After five years of campaign, Digger and I still had no support—advice yes, but no real active backing either employed by third-parties or financial generation or donation. More so, individuals were dipping into our case, offering a ray of hope, and then disappearing, leaving Digger and I rather perplexed as to the purpose of it all.
'This perhaps, was no longer about historical discovery—but perhaps the universe punishing Digger and I for our past mischief against the universe, or the universe guiding us to an outcome Digger and I could not foresee—we hoped it was the latter.'
The dilemma was, as always, a lack of promotion of our case to the right people. We had no publicity or marketing, or the financial means to deliver it, or the expertise to succeed in it; hindered perhaps, by a reluctance to self-promote, because it was contrary to everything Digger and I wished for, in quest for a quiet existence.
Our original goal was to procure ten thousand active advocates, who had seriously considered our case and the evidence we offered, and were actively promoting our case within their own social reach, whilst raising modest funding through donations and book sales.
We had failed so far—but that was primarily because our case, if it was in the press was dominated by a planning dispute, rather than the real issue—and as evidenced by the lack of public commentary raised by the press reports, it seemed to be a subject of little importance to the Scottish people.
Digger and I are reluctant to report this public indifference, but after five years and communications with nearly one thousand individuals, all the evidence points to a Scottish public indifferent to dynamic Scottish heritage protection.
However, our original goal stands—ten thousand advocates, or to procure only a few who are in a strong financial or influenced position, similarly convinced of our discovery, prepared to step in and relieve Digger and I of our burden, perhaps primarily for financial gain, or moral intervention, that will ensure the Templar Bells of Scotland reach a safe place—wherever that may be.
Reluctantly it was decided that instead of producing a second book to compliment the first, sharing our learning and experiences since 2024, we would release our story through a series of YouTube videos, and expose the writer, warts, freckles and all, to hopefully grow a significant niched international following, and in turn, reach influencers, the wider press and those individuals with the financial and resourced means to step in and provide that which we do not currently have.
Chapter one starts with an introduction to our story and a brief history of the site, leading up to the current Holywood Church being built in 1779.
