Holy Grail 'found' in UK with Jesus' blood chalice 'buried in Hertfordshire'

A film-maker is convinced he's uncovered the genuine location of the Holy Grail in leafy St Albans. Mark Christopher Lee has claimed to have traced the ancient chalice, believed to be the very vessel Jesus used at the Last Supper, to an unexpected site in the Hertfordshire city renowned as a hub for high technology.

He's come to this conclusion after years of sleuthing which led him to an overlooked tomb of a Knight Templar, who were rumoured to be protectors of the Grail.

Mark asserted that the tomb may well be the final resting place for the legendary relic. In pursuit of proving his findings, he's now setting in motion plans to seek permission for an excavation.

Lee explained: "I've actually been studying grail legends for years. I believe I've found evidence linking the Holy Grail's journey to England with Joseph of Arimathea, who was entrusted with Christ's burial and, in legend, given the grail in a vision."

His narrative strays from commonly accepted Grail stories, purporting that the cup was unearthed by the Knights Templar during the Crusades on Temple Mount, surreptitiously taken to England, and subsequently concealed in Hertfordshire, where the Templars had significant influence, reports the Daily Star.

The Templars' domain allegedly included Royston Cave - an enigmatic, bell-shaped cavern carved into chalk bedrock discovered in 1742 - and underground tunnels beneath Hertford.

Over time, Lee contends that the Holy Grail eventually became the property of Sir Francis Bacon, a pivotal member of the Rosicrucians – a clandestine assembly of thinkers set on attaining esoteric knowledge and the mastery of truth.

Bacon, the esteemed English philosopher and scientist, was ennobled as 'Baron of Verulamium'—the ancient moniker for St Albans—in 1618.

Lee revealed: "Bacon was deeply involved in esoteric thought with ties to Freemasonry and the Templars. He's buried in St Michael's Church in St Albans - which unusually features a Star of David in its windows, a symbol linked to Rosicrucians."

He shared that his investigations led him to unearth a long-lost Templar tomb, which he suspects is the actual burial site of the Grail.

"I'm keeping the exact location secret for now until I get permission to excavate," he disclosed.

In the iconic 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the intrepid archaeologist, portrayed by Harrison Ford, battles Nazi forces in pursuit of the Grail, only to lose it in the end.

Lee jests that he could have spared Indy a lot of hassle.

He has produced his own film titled The Last Grail Hunter, drawing inspiration from his quest for the sacred object.

The movie, starring EastEnders legend John 'Nasty Nick Cotton' Altman, is set to debut at the Raindance Film Festival in London on June 19.

While fictional, Lee asserts that the film, which depicts a down-and-out academic tackling the Grail myth, is "rooted in real historical research and personal discovery."

The Grail's exact whereabouts remain shrouded in secrecy, though religious lore suggests it resides within Valencia Cathedral in Spain.

According to Christian tradition, the Grail - famously featured in a 1975 Monty Python comedy film - was used to collect Christ's blood during his crucifixion.

After being safeguarded by the apostles, it was transported by St Peter to Rome and utilised by the initial popes.

This isn't the first instance of Britain being associated with the Grail.

Last year, it was alleged that MI6 agents attempted to seize it, only to be thwarted by a Spanish cleaner.

The enigma of the Holy Grail has intrigued individuals for centuries. Many have long pondered the whereabouts of the elusive chalice that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper.