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The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor (UK)

Last modified: 2009-05-18 by rob raeside
Keywords: imperial society of knights bachelor | knight |
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Society pennons

Today's edition of The Times (London) newspaper reports that yesterday the Centenary Service of the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor was held St. Paul's Cathedral. During the course of the service the Pennons of the Society, the Spurs, the Sword Chivalry [sic], and the Pennons were brought into St. Paul's and presented to the Prelate of the Society, the (Anglican) Bishop of London, who also dedicated the new Chapel of the Society.

I know a bit about the Knights Bachelor, but I was unaware that they had their own Society. The Sword and the Spurs are traditional symbols of knighthood and the Pennon traditionally tipped the lance of a knight
Ron Lahav, 14 November 2008

The knights have a website at http://www.iskb.co.uk/history.htm. The Pennon and the Banner are seen & described at http://www.iskb.co.uk/TODAY.htm:
"Each year a Service of Dedication is held in the Society's Chapel and the Knight Principal, the Registrar (carrying the Ceremonial Sword Chivalry) and the Treasurer (carrying the Spurs symbolic of Knighthood) process with the Prelate (The Bishop of London), the Council and the Imperial Society's Chaplain to the Knights' Altar. An Esquire carries the Pennon of the Imperial Society."
and
"The Council in 1999 authorised the hanging of a banner in the Chapel of the Imperial Society. This was designed by the Registrar and made by Turtle and Pearce of Tower Bridge, London, using real gold leaf. The Banner shows the Arms of the Society and measures five feet by five feet. It was consecrated at the Annual Service by the Prelate."
Jan Mertens, 14 November 2008

The "banner" is, as we know, a "banner of arms" (as per the Law of Arms), whilst their "pennon" is in the swallow-tailed form traditional (that is dating from the medieval period) to a "knight bachelor", who would "cut" his pennon into a square-tailed lance flag when and if promoted to the rank of "knight  banneret" (or if you prefer, a knight given a military command over other knights).
Christopher Southworth, 15 November 2008