The Commandery of St. Francis was founded in San Francisco on November 20, 1992, with its first Convent and Investiture (C&I). The original membership consisted of seven postulants who were invested on that date, sponsored by a Knight of the Order who had moved to the San Francisco area. The Commandery was elevated to Priory status in 1993.
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in San Mateo, California hosted the Priory from 1994 until 2007, when the Priory Council voted to transfer its C&I to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in historic Benicia (third state capitol of California, 1853-1854). The new location is deemed more central to the membership which is drawn from areas south of San Francisco, the greater California Central Valley, the Central Coast of California and the Sacramento Valley area north to the Oregon border.
Charitable giving has historically been focused on those organizations that support and aid military veterans. The original charity of the Priory was the California Veteran’s Home in Yountville. This State of California facility is available to military veterans who require both a permanent residence and long-term care.
Assistance focused on funding for durable items located in common area lounges, called a day room, which is designed to provide a more home-like atmosphere for the residents. Major items that have endured over time include a grandfather clock, large fish aquarium and a big screen television with surround sound system. We provided the chapel with a modern sound system in the mid-1990s, to enhance the religious experience for residents with hearing issues. The Priory was instrumental in obtaining several high quality furniture items, by working with a large interior design house in San Francisco, for donations of several sofas and chairs to upgrade the comfort for residents and visiting family.
Charitable giving over the years has expanded to include local food closets and WEAVE (battered women and their children) in San Francisco, Berkeley and Sacramento. This includes food assistance and job training programs. An ongoing commitment was made from 1992 to 2003 to provide support to groups which train and place guide animals (Service Dogs of California). The founder of this group subsequently joined the Priory.
The Priory membership has supported local and international charitable giving since its formation twenty years ago. One of our Grand Priory of the United States of America (GPUSA) sponsored international charities (on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church) was a Russian Christian medical train that runs in the late spring and summer months following the winter thaw. Prior Mary Borum and Chev. Randal Greer, along with other GPUSA members, visited with the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow in June 2003. They were able to see mockups of the medical clinic and chapel rail cars being built for service on the Great Northern Route (Moscow to Archangel). This train still provides medical and religious support at stops in Russian villages and towns which in some cases had never seen a doctor, nurse or priest before the train’s first visit.
With the increase in veterans requiring substantial care after their return from conflicts in the Middle East, the primary focus of the Priory charitable giving turned to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) hospitals and clinics in San Francisco, Sacramento and Fresno. The VA has also become the focus of member volunteer hours. Support has included Priory members providing on-site volunteer assistance to the VA by acting as facility guides, drivers and offering off-site tours.
A favorite off-site tour of the San Francisco VA is the half-day visit to the San Francisco Zoo, sponsored by Past Prior Randy Greer and his lady, Dr. Lori Sbarboro. This docent-led tour of the Zoo provides an eventful day with lunch and often the opportunity to get “behind” the scene lectures and even up-close with some of the animals. Several Priory members regularly donate books and magazines for use in the clinics. The regular donation of current publications is greatly appreciated, as the VA has no budget for such materials. They are utilized by veterans and their families.
The Priory’s leadership has been recognized by GPUSA at the national level over the years. In 2002 GPUSA selected St. Francis Past Prior Mary Borum as one of the first Deputy Grand Priors of GPUSA. She became the first Deputy Grand Prior for Region VII, which includes the west coast region, Dame Mary was the first female Templar member selected for this position. Dame Mary has served as an influential member of the GPUSA’s Executive Committee (EXCOM) during her tenure as a Deputy Grand Prior. She has been an honored member of the Order of Merit since 2003.
Chev. Tory Bruno, a long-time member of St. Francis, has written and published two books on the Knights Templar, which include his Templar Organization: The Management of Warrior Monasticism published in October 2000 and Templar Incorporated released in July 2006. These books offer a look at the Knights Templar from an organizational and management viewpoint set in the historic context of the time. Chev. Bruno was inducted into the Order of Merit in 2001 for his contribution to the research on the history of the Knights Templar.
The Priory of St. Francis has actively promoted participation in GPUSA and OSMTH (International) and other events from 1999 to 2012. A growing leadership cadre of our Priory’s knights and dames attend each annual Grand Convent and Investiture. This core of at least six Priory leaders includes four to six additional Priory members each year. A number of Priory members have held and now hold positions in the national organization and are actively involved in GPUSA service and policy development.
The Priory hosted a successful GPUSA Grand Convent and Investiture in October 2004, the first one held west of the Mississippi River. Over sixty Knights and Dames from around the country joined our local members as did several OSMTH members and their spouses from other nations. This San Francisco event was a high mark of GPUSA events that year.
Three members of the Priory were able to participate in the GPUSA Pilgrimage in November 2011 for the first time. Chevaliers Bill Barnsdale, Dan Porter and Chvse. Joy Barnsdale participated in the group of twenty-four Knights and Dames who visited our Templar brethren and GPUSA- sponsored charities in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. It was a moving and informative trip that more fully illuminated the scope of our support for Christians at risk in the Holy Land. The Priory of St Francis will continue to support future GPUSA pilgrimages, as well as its annual donation to the Holy Land through the Jerusalem Mite.
The Priory of St. Francis has contributed to the growth of other GPUSA priories. The Priory has mentored and supported the establishment of three new priories on the west coast and assisted with the growth of several others. The first group to start as a commandery is the well-established Priory of Mount St. Michael in Seattle and Portland, which was elevated to priory status in March 2003. The second commandery to be elevated to priory status is the Priory of our Savior in Pasadena in 1999. The third commandery elevated to priory status is the Priory of the Mountain House of the Lord in Salt Lake City in 1999. All three of these priories were sponsored by the Priory of St Francis as commanderies, as they developed their membership and grew to priory status.
The Priory of San Francisco continues to thrive after thirty plus years. The Priory operates with little to no overhead, operating or administrative costs and our members contribute many hours of charitable work each year. The Priory of St. Francis donates each year to our various charities through our charitable works. Our members and leaders are committed to continuing this good work in the name of the Lord.
Priors of the Priory of St. Francis
Prior I Chev. Nelson Arthur Zimmerman, GCTJ (1992-1995)
Prior II COL Chev. Victor Howard, Ph.D., GCTJ (1995-1997)
Prior III COL Chev. William D. Borum, GCTJ (1997-1999)
Prior IV CAPT Chev. Miles Bresee, Jr, KCTJ (1999-2000)
Prior V Chvse. Mary Margaret Borum, DGCTJ, CMTJ (2000-2003)
Prior VI COL Chev. William Barnsdale, Jr., GCTJ (2003-2007)
Prior VII LCDR Chev. Arthur W. Curtis, GOTJ (2007-2009)
Prior VIII Chev. Randall Doyle Greer, GOTJ (2009-2011)
Prior IX COL Chvse. Elizabeth (Joy) Barnsdale, DGOTJ (2011-2013)
Prior X COL Chev. Robert Kaufman, GCTJ (2013-2015)
Prior XI SGM Chevalier Richard Charles Crowe, GOTJ (2015-2017)
Prior XII COL Bernadette Crofton, GOTJ (2017-2019)
Prior XIII Katherine Denise Crowe, DCTJ (2019-2021)
Prior XVI Kathleen Todd Watson, GCTJ, CMTJ (2021-Present)