“The bloody history of the Knights Templar and Cathars has always held a great fascination for me,” explains Spencer about the inspiration behind his book, The 9th Heresy. “I was fortunate to learn of the existence of a medieval parchment containing reference to the Knights Templar, the Cathars and Christ, and wondered if there was a connection between the mythical treasures,” Spencer adds.
On October 16th 1969, a London auction house offered for sale a 13th century parchment containing a religious text scribed in Latin and pertaining to reference the legendary lost treasure of the Cathars. Following a graphology test, the writing was attributed to medieval Cathar historian, John of Lugio.
In 1971, the new owner of the parchment, Gilbert de Chérisey, discovered a steganograph hidden behind the writing, containing references to the resting place of Christ – the Cross of Jerusalem, a Greek representation of Christ, and a Christogram. Following Gilbert’s death, his son, James, continued the work his father had spent four decades attempting to prove.
“The 9th Heresy was written as a work of fiction, yet with a basis of fact. It encompasses some of the world’s greatest treasure mysteries,” observes Spencer. “Linking them together is the truth behind the location of the mortal remains of Christ.”

Spencer Wilder was born in Gravesend, Kent in 1968. After leaving school in 1984, he became heavily involved in politics, using music as a vehicle to express his views. Spencer has worked for Earth Records as a singer/songwriter and has appeared on the BBC and in various newspaper articles.