diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index d94d96d92..0ebcd817a 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ func (c *Client) Create(cfg Function) (err error) {
 	}
 
 	// Write out a template.
-	w := templateWriter{templates: c.templates, verbose: c.verbose}
+	w := templateWriter{repositories: c.templates, verbose: c.verbose}
 	if err = w.Write(f.Runtime, f.Trigger, f.Root); err != nil {
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/client_test.go b/client_test.go
index 066875e9a..cbe1543f4 100644
--- a/client_test.go
+++ b/client_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ const TestRegistry = "quay.io/alice"
 // by the client API for those who prefer manual transmissions.
 func TestNew(t *testing.T) {
 	root := "testdata/example.com/testCreate" // Root from which to run the test
-	if err := os.MkdirAll(root, 0700); err != nil {
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(root, 0744); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	defer os.RemoveAll(root)
@@ -179,11 +179,11 @@ func TestExtensibleTemplates(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Create a new client with a path to the extensible templates
 	client := bosonFunc.New(
-		bosonFunc.WithTemplates("testdata/templates"),
+		bosonFunc.WithTemplates("testdata/repositories"),
 		bosonFunc.WithRegistry(TestRegistry))
 
 	// Create a Function specifying a template, 'json' that only exists in the extensible set
-	if err := client.New(context.Background(), bosonFunc.Function{Root: root, Trigger: "boson-experimental/json"}); err != nil {
+	if err := client.New(context.Background(), bosonFunc.Function{Root: root, Trigger: "customProvider/json"}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/templates.go b/templates.go
index a549c8141..6b64c4aad 100644
--- a/templates.go
+++ b/templates.go
@@ -1,181 +1,192 @@
 package function
 
-// Updating Templates:
-// See documentation in ./templates/README.md
-// go get github.com/markbates/pkger
-//go:generate pkger
-
 import (
+	"embed"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
-
-	"github.com/markbates/pkger"
 )
 
+// Embed all files in ./templates.
+//go:embed templates
+var embedded embed.FS
+
 // DefautlTemplate is the default Function signature / environmental context
 // of the resultant template.  All runtimes are expected to have at least
 // an HTTP Handler ("http") and Cloud Events ("events")
 const DefaultTemplate = "http"
 
-// fileAccessor encapsulates methods for accessing template files.
-type fileAccessor interface {
-	Stat(name string) (os.FileInfo, error)
-	Open(p string) (file, error)
-}
+// DefaultTemplateFileMode for embedded files which have lost their mode due to being
+// retained in a read-only filesystem (forced 0444 on embed).
+const DefaultTemplateFileMode = 0644
 
-type file interface {
-	Readdir(int) ([]os.FileInfo, error)
-	Read([]byte) (int, error)
-	Close() error
-}
-
-// When pkger is run, code analysis detects this Include statement,
-// triggering the serializaation of the templates directory and all
-// its contents into pkged.go, which is then made available via
-// a pkger fileAccessor.
-// Path is relative to the go module root.
-func init() {
-	_ = pkger.Include("/templates")
-}
+// DefaultTemplateDirMode for embedded files which have lost their mode due to being
+// retained in a read-only filesystem (forced 0444 on embed).
+const DefaultTemplateDirMode = 0744
 
 type templateWriter struct {
-	verbose   bool
-	templates string
+	// Extensible Template Repositories
+	// templates on disk (extensible templates)
+	// Stored on disk at path:
+	//   [customTemplatesPath]/[repository]/[runtime]/[template]
+	// For example
+	//   ~/.config/func/boson/go/http"
+	// Specified when writing templates as simply:
+	//   Write([runtime], [repository], [path])
+	// For example
+	// w := templateWriter{templates:"/home/username/.config/func/templates")
+	//   w.Write("go", "boson/http")
+	// Ie. "Using the custom templates in the func configuration directory,
+	//    write the Boson HTTP template for the Go runtime."
+	repositories string
+	defaultModes bool
+	verbose      bool
 }
 
-func (n templateWriter) Write(runtime, template string, dest string) error {
+var (
+	ErrRepositoryNotFound        = errors.New("repository not found")
+	ErrRepositoriesNotDefined    = errors.New("custom template repositories location not specified")
+	ErrTemplateMissingRepository = errors.New("template name missing repository prefix")
+)
+
+// Write the template for the given runtime to the destination specified.
+// Template may be prefixed with a custom repo name.
+func (t *templateWriter) Write(runtime, template, dest string) error {
 	if template == "" {
 		template = DefaultTemplate
 	}
 
-	// TODO: Confirm the dest path is empty?  This is currently in an earlier
-	// step of the create process but future calls directly to initialize would
-	// be better off being made safe.
+	if isCustom(template) {
+		return t.writeCustom(t.repositories, runtime, template, dest)
+	}
 
-	if isEmbedded(runtime, template) {
-		return copyEmbedded(runtime, template, dest)
-	}
-	if n.templates != "" {
-		return copyFilesystem(n.templates, runtime, template, dest)
-	}
-	return fmt.Errorf("A template for runtime '%v' template '%v' was not found internally and no custom template path was defined.", runtime, template)
+	t.defaultModes = true // overwrite read-only mode on write to defaults.
+	return t.writeEmbedded(runtime, template, dest)
 }
 
-func copyEmbedded(runtime, template, dest string) error {
-	// Copy files to the destination
-	// Example embedded path:
-	//   /templates/go/http
-	src := filepath.Join("/templates", runtime, template)
-	return copy(src, dest, embeddedAccessor{})
+func isCustom(template string) bool {
+	return len(strings.Split(template, "/")) > 1
 }
 
-func copyFilesystem(templatesPath, runtime, templateFullName, dest string) error {
-	// ensure that the templateFullName is of the format "repoName/templateName"
-	cc := strings.Split(templateFullName, "/")
-	if len(cc) != 2 {
-		return errors.New("Template name must be in the format 'REPO/NAME'")
+func (t *templateWriter) writeCustom(repositories, runtime, template, dest string) error {
+	if repositories == "" {
+		return ErrRepositoriesNotDefined
 	}
-	repo := cc[0]
-	template := cc[1]
-
-	// Example FileSystem path:
-	//   /home/alice/.config/func/templates/boson-experimental/go/json
-	src := filepath.Join(templatesPath, repo, runtime, template)
-	return copy(src, dest, filesystemAccessor{})
+	if !repositoryExists(repositories, template) {
+		return ErrRepositoryNotFound
+	}
+	cc := strings.Split(template, "/")
+	if len(cc) < 2 {
+		return ErrTemplateMissingRepository
+	}
+	// ex: /home/alice/.config/func/repositories/boson/go/http
+	src := filepath.Join(cc[0], runtime, cc[1])
+	return t.cp(src, dest, os.DirFS(repositories))
 }
 
-func isEmbedded(runtime, template string) bool {
-	_, err := pkger.Stat(filepath.Join("/templates", runtime, template))
+func (t *templateWriter) writeEmbedded(runtime, template, dest string) error {
+	_, err := fs.Stat(embedded, filepath.Join("templates", runtime, template))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	src := filepath.Join("templates", runtime, template)
+	return t.cp(src, dest, embedded)
+}
+
+func repositoryExists(repositories, template string) bool {
+	cc := strings.Split(template, "/")
+	_, err := fs.Stat(os.DirFS(repositories), cc[0])
 	return err == nil
 }
 
-type embeddedAccessor struct{}
-
-func (a embeddedAccessor) Stat(path string) (os.FileInfo, error) {
-	return pkger.Stat(path)
-}
-
-func (a embeddedAccessor) Open(path string) (file, error) {
-	return pkger.Open(path)
-}
-
-type filesystemAccessor struct{}
-
-func (a filesystemAccessor) Stat(path string) (os.FileInfo, error) {
-	return os.Stat(path)
-}
-
-func (a filesystemAccessor) Open(path string) (file, error) {
-	return os.Open(path)
-}
-
-func copy(src, dest string, accessor fileAccessor) (err error) {
-	node, err := accessor.Stat(src)
+func (t *templateWriter) cp(src, dest string, files fs.FS) error {
+	node, err := fs.Stat(files, src)
 	if err != nil {
-		return
+		return err
 	}
 	if node.IsDir() {
-		return copyNode(src, dest, accessor)
+		return t.copyNode(src, dest, files)
 	} else {
-		return copyLeaf(src, dest, accessor)
+		return t.copyLeaf(src, dest, files)
 	}
 }
 
-func copyNode(src, dest string, accessor fileAccessor) (err error) {
-	node, err := accessor.Stat(src)
+func (t *templateWriter) copyNode(src, dest string, files fs.FS) error {
+	node, err := fs.Stat(files, src)
 	if err != nil {
-		return
+		return err
 	}
 
-	err = os.MkdirAll(dest, node.Mode())
-	if err != nil {
-		return
+	mode := node.Mode()
+	if t.defaultModes {
+		mode = DefaultTemplateDirMode
 	}
 
-	children, err := readDir(src, accessor)
+	err = os.MkdirAll(dest, mode)
 	if err != nil {
-		return
+		return err
+	}
+
+	children, err := readDir(src, files)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 	for _, child := range children {
-		if err = copy(filepath.Join(src, child.Name()), filepath.Join(dest, child.Name()), accessor); err != nil {
-			return
+		if err = t.cp(filepath.Join(src, child.Name()), filepath.Join(dest, child.Name()), files); err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
 	}
-	return
+	return nil
 }
 
-func readDir(src string, accessor fileAccessor) ([]os.FileInfo, error) {
-	f, err := accessor.Open(src)
+func readDir(src string, files fs.FS) ([]fs.DirEntry, error) {
+	f, err := files.Open(src)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	list, err := f.Readdir(-1)
-	f.Close()
+	defer f.Close()
+
+	fi, err := f.Stat()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
+	if !fi.IsDir() {
+		return nil, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("%v must be a directory", fi.Name()))
+	}
+	list, err := f.(fs.ReadDirFile).ReadDir(-1)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	sort.Slice(list, func(i, j int) bool { return list[i].Name() < list[j].Name() })
 	return list, nil
 }
 
-func copyLeaf(src, dest string, accessor fileAccessor) (err error) {
-	srcFile, err := accessor.Open(src)
+func (t *templateWriter) copyLeaf(src, dest string, files fs.FS) (err error) {
+	srcFile, err := files.Open(src)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
 	defer srcFile.Close()
 
-	srcFileInfo, err := accessor.Stat(src)
+	srcFileInfo, err := fs.Stat(files, src)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
 
-	destFile, err := os.OpenFile(dest, os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE|os.O_TRUNC, srcFileInfo.Mode())
+	// Use the original's mode unless a nonzero mode was explicitly provided.
+	mode := srcFileInfo.Mode()
+	if t.defaultModes {
+		mode = DefaultTemplateFileMode
+	}
+
+	destFile, err := os.OpenFile(dest, os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE|os.O_TRUNC, mode)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/templates/README.md b/templates/README.md
index 2fe89a01e..64970567d 100644
--- a/templates/README.md
+++ b/templates/README.md
@@ -1,24 +1,4 @@
 # Templates
 
-## Packaging
-
-When updates are made to these templates, they must be packaged (serialized as
-a Go struture) by running `make`, and checking in the resultant `pkged.go` file.
-
-## How it works
-
-running `make` in turn installs the `pkger` binary, which can be installed via:
-`go get github.com/markbates/pkger/cmd/pkger`
-Make then invokes `pkger` before `go build`.
-
-The resulting `pkged.go` file includes the contents of the templates directory,
-encoded as a Go strucutres which is then makde available in code using an API
-similar to the standard library's `os` package.
-
-## Rationale
-
-Until such time as embedding static assets in binaries is included in the
-base `go build` functionality (see https://github.com/golang/go/issues/35950)
-a third-party tool is required and pkger provides an API very similar  
-to the `os` package.
-
+This templates directory is embedded entirely into any resultant binaries
+using the go:embed directive introduced in Go 1.16
diff --git a/templates/test/http/rtAtplDefault.txt b/templates/test/http/rtAtplDefault.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..095ad2b0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/test/http/rtAtplDefault.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Runtime A
+Template HTTP (Default)
diff --git a/templates/test/tpla/rtAtplA.txt b/templates/test/tpla/rtAtplA.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..02afcc199
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/test/tpla/rtAtplA.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Runtime A
+Template A
diff --git a/templates/test/tplb/rtAtplB.txt b/templates/test/tplb/rtAtplB.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d3179e872
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/test/tplb/rtAtplB.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Runtime A
+Template B
diff --git a/templates_test.go b/templates_test.go
index 668cf71cb..6fe1632ad 100644
--- a/templates_test.go
+++ b/templates_test.go
@@ -9,69 +9,145 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 
-// TestTemplatesEmbeddedFileMode ensures that files from the embedded templates are
-// written with the same mode from whence they came
-func TestTemplatesEmbeddedFileMode(t *testing.T) {
-	var path = "testdata/example.com/www"
-	err := os.MkdirAll(path, 0744)
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	defer os.RemoveAll(path)
+const TestRuntime = "test"
 
-	client := New()
-	function := Function{Root: path, Runtime: "quarkus", Trigger: "events"}
-	if err := client.Create(function); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
+// TestWriteEmbedded ensures that embedded templates are copied.
+func TestWriteEmbedded(t *testing.T) {
+	// create test directory
+	root := "testdata/testWriteEmbedded"
+	defer using(t, root)()
 
-	// The file mode of the embedded mvnw should be -rwxr-xr-x
-	// See source file at: templates/quarkus/events/mvnw
-	// Assert mode is preserved
-	sourceMode := os.FileMode(0755)
-	dest, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(path, "mvnw"))
+	// write out a template
+	w := templateWriter{}
+	err := w.Write(TestRuntime, "tpla", root)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	if runtime.GOOS != "windows" {
-		if dest.Mode() != sourceMode {
-			t.Fatalf("The dest mode should be %v but was %v", sourceMode, dest.Mode())
-		}
+
+	// Assert file exists as expected
+	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(root, "rtAtplA.txt"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 }
 
-// TestTemplatesExtensibleFileMode ensures that files from a file-system
-// derived template is written with mode retained.
-func TestTemplatesExtensibleFileMode(t *testing.T) {
-	var (
-		path      = "testdata/example.com/www"
-		template  = "boson-experimental/http"
-		templates = "testdata/templates"
-	)
-	err := os.MkdirAll(path, 0744)
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	defer os.RemoveAll(path)
+// TestWriteCustom ensures that a template from a filesystem source (ie. custom
+// provider on disk) can be specified as the source for a template.
+func TestWriteCustom(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create test directory
+	root := "testdata/testWriteFilesystem"
+	defer using(t, root)()
 
-	client := New(WithTemplates(templates))
-	function := Function{Root: path, Runtime: "quarkus", Trigger: template}
-	if err := client.Create(function); err != nil {
+	// Writer which includes custom repositories
+	w := templateWriter{repositories: "testdata/repositories"}
+	err := w.Write(TestRuntime, "customProvider/tpla", root)
+	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	// Assert mode is preserved
-	source, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join("testdata/templates/boson-experimental/quarkus/http/mvnw"))
+	// Assert file exists as expected
+	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(root, "customtpl.txt"))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	dest, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(path, "mvnw"))
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if runtime.GOOS != "windows" {
-		if dest.Mode() != source.Mode() {
-			t.Fatalf("The dest mode should be %v but was %v", source.Mode(), dest.Mode())
-		}
-	}
+}
+
+// TestWriteDefault ensures that the default template is used when not specified.
+func TestWriteDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	// create test directory
+	root := "testdata/testWriteDefault"
+	defer using(t, root)()
+
+	// write out a template
+	w := templateWriter{}
+	err := w.Write(TestRuntime, "", root)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Assert file exists as expected
+	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(root, "rtAtplDefault.txt"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestWriteModeDefault ensires that files written to disk are set to writible by the owner by default.  Since the embedded filesystem is expressly read-only, copying files to disk results in likewise read-only files.  Templates are expected to be mutable, so by default set mode to 0644.
+func TestWriteModeDefault(t *testing.T) {
+	root := "testdata/testWriteModeDefault"
+	defer using(t, root)()
+
+	w := templateWriter{}
+	err := w.Write(TestRuntime, "tpla", root)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Verify file mode was defaulted
+	f, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(root, "rtAtplA.txt"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if f.Mode() != os.FileMode(0644) {
+		t.Fatalf("The custom file's mode should be 0644 but was %#o", f.Mode())
+	}
+
+}
+
+// TestWriteCustomMode ensures that templates written from custom templates
+// retain their mode.  Note that the embed system is expressly for read-only
+// filesystems, so the mode is always read-only
+// https://golang.org/src/embed/embed.go?s=5559:6576#L235
+func TestWriteModeCustom(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		return // not applicable
+	}
+
+	// test directories
+	var err error
+	root := "testdata/testWriteModeCustom"
+	defer using(t, root)()
+
+	// Write executable from custom repo
+	w := templateWriter{repositories: "testdata/repositories"}
+	err = w.Write(TestRuntime, "customProvider/tplb", root)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Verify custom file mode was preserved.
+	customFile, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(root, "custom-executable.sh"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if customFile.Mode() != os.FileMode(0755) {
+		t.Fatalf("The custom file's mode should be 0755 but was %v", customFile.Mode())
+	}
+}
+
+// Helpers
+// -------
+
+// using the given directory (creating it) returns a closure which removes the
+// directory, intended to be run in a defer statement.
+func using(t *testing.T, root string) func() {
+	t.Helper()
+	mkdir(t, root)
+	return func() {
+		rm(t, root)
+	}
+}
+
+func mkdir(t *testing.T, dir string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0744); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+func rm(t *testing.T, dir string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if err := os.RemoveAll(dir); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/testdata/templates/boson-experimental/node/json/index.js b/testdata/repositories/customProvider/node/json/index.js
similarity index 100%
rename from testdata/templates/boson-experimental/node/json/index.js
rename to testdata/repositories/customProvider/node/json/index.js
diff --git a/testdata/templates/boson-experimental/node/json/json.js b/testdata/repositories/customProvider/node/json/json.js
similarity index 100%
rename from testdata/templates/boson-experimental/node/json/json.js
rename to testdata/repositories/customProvider/node/json/json.js
diff --git a/testdata/templates/boson-experimental/quarkus/http/mvnw b/testdata/repositories/customProvider/quarkus/http/mvnw
similarity index 100%
rename from testdata/templates/boson-experimental/quarkus/http/mvnw
rename to testdata/repositories/customProvider/quarkus/http/mvnw
diff --git a/testdata/repositories/customProvider/test/tpla/customtpl.txt b/testdata/repositories/customProvider/test/tpla/customtpl.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fd0805a37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/repositories/customProvider/test/tpla/customtpl.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+Custom Provider
+Runtime A
+Template A
diff --git a/testdata/repositories/customProvider/test/tplb/custom-executable.sh b/testdata/repositories/customProvider/test/tplb/custom-executable.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..236816ecb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/repositories/customProvider/test/tplb/custom-executable.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+echo "example executble"