The collections of the Museum of the Order of St John contain remarkable riches, and the historic home of the Order of St John at St John’s Gate in London is a treasure house, which in itself may be considered a museum exhibit. The buildings in Clerkenwell are familiar to many as a London landmark, although relatively few investigate further to discover the fascinating objects within that tell the Order’s 900-year story.
Many different aspects of the ancient Knights Hospitaller – the precurser to the modern Order – are documented in a number of publications, from academic tomes through to diverting works of fiction, while others explore the nineteenth and twentieth century St John story from a social history perspective.
Centuries after the suppression of the Order by Elizabeth I, which took place after many turbulent years of reforms to English churches and religious structures following the dissolution of the monasteries and the split with Rome by Henry VIII, in 1888 the modern Most Venerable Order was Granted a Royal Charter by Her Majesty Queen Victoria. It continues to espouse its charitable mission, operating in England and the Islands through healthcare charity St John Ambulance.
“Treasures”, a 2019 publication authored by Tom Foakes, the Director of the Museum of the Order of St John, pulls together a number of strands of the Order’s history to tell a story of faith, care and valour, from the Order’s foundation in 11th-century Jerusalem, through to its modern role as a global care-giving organisation, all the while referencing items in the Museum’s unique and rich collection.
Each picture and object featured has been carefully selected to highlight a particular aspect of the Order’s story. Some provide merely a starting point for a wider discussion, such as the 18th-century knife and fork, which leads into a conversation on the eating habits of the Knights. Others, such as the Portrait Bust of Grand Master Jean de Valette, provide a compelling case for artistic attribution.
No matter what their format or type, all the objects included in “Treasures” have been beautifully photographed by Julian Calder for the Order and Museum.
While certainly not exhaustive, “Treasures” illustrates the range and diversity of the collections belonging to the Order of St John and the splendour of the buildings in which they are housed. As the guardian of these treasures, the Priory of England and the Islands of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem has made them available to all through its unique Museum on the edge of the City of London.
Today, the Order is a member of the Alliance of the Orders of St John of Jerusalem alongside the Sovereign Order of Malta and the Johanniterorden. The Most Venerable Order of St John draws its members from all faiths and none, but all abide by the Christian principles of the original organisation.
Only a few days ago “Treasures” achieved a new milestone when copies were presented to Pope Francis and the Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre, by Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis CBE KStJ DL, Prior of the Priory of England and the Islands of The Order of St John, and his wife, Dr Penelope Jarvis, while on a business trip in Rome.
The Museum of the Order of St John is free to visit and guided tours can be booked. “Treasures” itself is available from the Museum at a cost of £50, and also online via www.sja.org.uk. It was created with a limited print run and would make an ideal gift for anyone with a passion for The Order and its long, rich history. All sales proceeds go to St John’s charitable output via the Museum.
Ian Groves is communications officer for the Priory of England and the Islands and the Museum of the Order of St John. For more information visit museumstjohn.org.uk.
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