Order of Saint John (chartered 1888) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem |
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Breast star of a Knight of Grace
of the Order of St John |
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| Type | Order of chivalry |
| Established | 1888 |
| Motto | Pro Fide Pro Utilitate Hominum |
| Eligibility | Service to the order |
| Status | Extant |
| Sovereign Head | Charles III |
| Grand Prior | The Duke of Gloucester |
| Lord Prior | Professor Mark Compton |
| Grades |
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| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Dependent on State |
| Next (lower) | Dependent on State |
_ribbon_-vector.svg){kind=small} Ribbon of the order |
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The Order of St John is a special group that helps people around the world. Its full name is the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem. It's also known as St John International. This group is a royal order of chivalry, which is like an old club for people who do good deeds. It was officially started in 1888 by Queen Victoria and is dedicated to John the Baptist.
The Order of St John has a long history. It goes back to the Knights Hospitaller from the Middle Ages. These original knights were founded in Jerusalem around 1099. They were one of the first groups of knights who helped sick and injured people. Later, they became known as the Order of Malta.
In the 1820s, a part of the Knights Hospitaller moved to Britain. Over time, this group became linked to the St John Ophthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem, which helps people with eye problems. They also started the St John Ambulance Brigade in 1887. This group is famous for teaching first aid and helping people in emergencies.
Today, the Order of St John works in many countries, especially in the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, and the USA. Their main goal is to "prevent and relieve sickness and injury, and to act to enhance the health and well-being of people anywhere in the world."
About 25,000 people are members of the Order. Most of them are Protestant, but people from other Christian groups and even other religions are welcome. You can't just ask to join; you have to be invited.
The Order of St John is best known for the health organizations it created, like St John Ambulance and the St John Eye Hospital Group. These groups help everyone, no matter their religion. The Order is part of a bigger group called the Alliance of the Orders of Saint John of Jerusalem. Its main office is in London, and it's a registered charity in England.
Contents
History of the Order
How the Order Began
In the 1820s, some Knights of Malta in France started giving special titles to people in England who supported them. These supporters came from different Christian backgrounds.
In 1823, a French group of the Order of Malta tried to raise money. They wanted to buy back land for the Order and help in the Greek War of Independence. They tried to sell bonds in London to create an army of British soldiers. They even made a deal with Greek rebels to get islands like Rhodes back for the Order. But the plan failed when news leaked, and the French government stopped supporting them.
The French group reorganized, and a new leader, the Marquis de Sainte-Croix du Molay, took charge. In 1826, they tried again to raise money. A French Knight of Malta, Philippe de Castellane, came to Britain to find supporters. A Scottish man named Donald Currie was given permission in 1827 to raise a lot of money. Anyone who helped or joined the army was offered a knighthood. But not many people donated.
Castellane and Currie then formed a new group in England called the Council of the English Langue. It started on January 12, 1831. Its main office was at a place called the "Auberge of St John" in London. This building was once part of the old Clerkenwell Priory, which was a main home for the Knights of Saint John in the Middle Ages. Some people see this as a fresh start for the Knights Hospitaller, while others see it as a new order being created.
In 1831, a man named Robert Peat became a leader of this English group. He was later known as the first Grand Prior of the association. After Peat died in 1837, Sir Henry Dymoke became the Grand Prior. He tried to get the English group recognized by the main Roman Catholic Order of Malta. But they said no.
Because of this, the English group declared itself independent. They called themselves "The Sovereign and Illustrious Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Anglia." This showed they believed they were a direct continuation of the original 11th-century Order of St John. The group grew, and in 1861, William Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester, became its Grand Prior. They also started an ambulance service to help people.
The Modern Order of St John
In 1871, the Duke of Manchester changed the Order's name to the "Order of Saint John of Jerusalem in England." This name was more humble. Five years later, Princess Alexandra joined, and then her husband, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (who later became King Edward VII), also became a Knight.
In 1877, the Order started St John Ambulance groups in places like railway centers and mining areas. This taught workers how to give first aid to accident victims. In 1882, they opened a special eye hospital in Jerusalem (now called the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group). By 1887, they had fully created the St John Ambulance Brigade, which did important life-saving work.
The Order was officially recognized as the modern order of chivalry by Queen Victoria in 1888. Its name has changed a few times since then. In 1961, the Order worked with other Protestant branches of the original Order of Saint John in Europe to form the Alliance of the Orders of Saint John of Jerusalem. This helped them get recognition from the Order of Malta. The Order's most recent official document was given in 1955, and an update in 1974 recognized its worldwide reach, giving it its current name. In 1999, the Order was given a special role at the United Nations Economic and Social Council, showing its importance on a global scale.
How the Order is Organized
Leaders of the Order
Charles III is the top leader of the Order of St John. He is called the Sovereign Head. The next in line is the Grand Prior, who since 1975 has been Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester.
The Grand Prior works with other important leaders, called Great Officers. These include:
- The Lord Prior of St John: He helps the Grand Prior.
- The Prelate: An Anglican bishop who handles religious matters.
- Deputy Lord Priors: They help the Lord Prior.
- The Sub-Prelate: He looks after the Order's local groups.
These leaders, along with the heads of the Order's regional groups (called priories), form the Grand Council. The Grand Prior chooses most of these leaders. There are also other officers, like the Secretary-General.
The Grand Prior has always been a member of the British royal family. The current Grand Prior is Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester.
Different Ranks
After the main leaders, there are other members of the Order. They are divided into six different ranks, each with special letters they can use after their name. The highest rank (Grade I) is for members of the Grand Council and a few others. However, kings, queens, and heads of state can also be appointed to the highest rank without counting towards the limit.
Here are the different ranks:
| Grades of the Order of St John | |||||
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| Rank | Grade I | Grade II | Grade III | Grade IV | Grade V |
| Title (English) | Bailiff/Dame Grand Cross | Knights/Dames of Justice or Grace | Commander/Chaplain | Officer | Member |
| Title (French) | Bailli/Dame grand-croix | Chevalier/Dame de justice ou de grâce | Commandeur | Officier | Membre |
| Letters after name | GCStJ | KStJ/DStJ | CStJ/ChStJ | OStJ | MStJ |
When new Knights and Dames join, the Grand Prior touches their shoulder with a sword. They also receive their special robes and badges. Members of the Order can't use "Sir" or "Dame" before their names, but they can add symbols of the Order to their coat of arms.
Priories and Commanderies
The Order of St John is organized into regional groups called Priories and Commanderies. These groups help manage the Order's work in different parts of the world.
Some of the main Priories include:
- England and The Islands (which includes Northern Ireland)
- Wales
- Scotland
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- United States
- Kenya (formed in 2013)
- Singapore (formed in 2014)
Each Priory has its own leader and council. Smaller groups called Commanderies can exist within a Priory's area or be independent. If a country doesn't have its own Priory or Commandery, it usually falls under the "home priory" of England and The Islands.
In Canada, the Order of St John has about 6,000 members. The Governor General is the main leader of the Order in Canada.
In the USA, a group was started in 1957 to help the Order's charity work, especially the St John Ophthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem. This group was so successful that in 1996, Queen Elizabeth II officially created the Priory of the United States of America. American members promise to be loyal to the Order as long as it doesn't conflict with their duty to their own country.
Special Clothes and Badges
When people join the Order of St John, they get special badges and robes to wear at important events. The main badge for all members is an eight-pointed Maltese Cross. It has two lions and two unicorns in between the points.
The badges for the Sovereign Head and other top leaders are made of gold and enamel, with special crowns or symbols on top. Other members' badges vary in size and material, from enamel to silver.
| Insignia of the Order of St John | ||||||
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| Rank | Bailiffs/Dames Grand Cross | Knights/Dames of Justice | Knights/Dames of Grace | Commanders | Officers | Members |
| Badge |  |
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| Size | 82.5 millimetres (3.25 in) 57.2 millimetres (2.25 in) suspended |
57.2 millimetres (2.25 in) | 57.2 millimetres (2.25 in) | 57.2 millimetres (2.25 in) | 44.4 millimetres (1.75 in) | 44.4 millimetres (1.75 in) |
| Material | Enamel | Enamel | Enamel | Enamel | Enamel | Silver |
| Backing and decorations |
Gold | Gold | Silver | Silver | Silver | Silver |
The highest-ranking members wear their badges on a wide black ribbon over their shoulder. Other members wear them on a narrower ribbon around their neck or pinned to their chest. Some members also wear a breast star, which is a larger version of their badge. All members also get a small button to wear on their clothes for less formal events. These badges can be worn at any event where other awards are worn.
For formal events, members wear special robes. These include a long black cloak called a mantle, a long black dress-like garment called a sopra vest, and a black hat. The mantles of the Sovereign Head and Grand Prior are made of black silk velvet. Other members wear mantles made of black wool. Each cloak has a large white star of the Order on its left side.
The sopra vest is a long, thin black garment that buttons up the neck and falls to the ankles. It's similar to a cassock and comes from an old surcoat worn by the Knights of St John.
How to Join the Order
The Sovereign Head (King Charles III) approves all new members. There's a limit of 35,000 members, and you must be at least 18 years old to join. People are usually invited to join if they have shown kindness and helped others. This matches the Order's mottos: Pro Fide (For the Faith) and Pro Utilitate Hominum (For the Service of Humanity).
When new members join, they say a special promise:
I promise to be loyal to The Order of St John and its Sovereign Head, as long as it doesn't go against my duty to my own country. I will do my best to support its good work and always act with honor, following the goals of this Christian order.
If someone is Christian, they also say:
I promise that I am a Christian and believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Even though the Order promotes Christian values and is officially a "Christian order," since 1999, it has said that being Christian is not a requirement to be a member. The Order believes its work is about helping people through St John Ambulance and other services. So, while the main leaders must be Christian, other members don't have to be. The Order welcomes people from other religions, showing "Christian hospitality" while still holding onto its Christian roots.
See also
In Spanish: Venerable Orden de San Juan para niños
- Service Medal of the Order of St John
- Donat of the Order of Saint John
- Sovereign Military Order of Malta
- List of the priors of Saint John of Jerusalem in England
- List of bailiffs and dames grand cross of the Order of St John
- Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg)
- Museum of the Order of St John
