After the death of CHRIST, People began to make pilgrimages to the Holy Land to see his birth place, However, Travel in those days were fraught with danger, pilgrims were frequently attacked by robbers

A Hostel was established in Jerusalem for sick and weary pilgrims by Abbot Probes. The persecution of Christians and the closing of all routes to Palestine by the Moslems led to the Holy War The Crusades

The Capture of Jerusalem by the Christians forces of the Crusade, The Wounded were treated in the Hospital in the Jerusalem which was run by Monks under the leadership of the Blessed Gerard.

The Blessed Gerard acquired the Monastery of St John an old Greek Church and founded the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. The present day order is a descendent of the Order of the Hospital of St John, A Religious Order founded in Palestine.

<fontsize=”18″>Pop recognized the Order, as having a special task to care for the sick.By his bull of 1113, pope Paschal II gave the Monks and Hospital in Jerusalem independent status as a Religious Foundation, known as the Order the hospital of St John of Jerusalem.in addition to the caring of the sick, the Second master of the hospital role for the brothers, that of the protection of the pilgrims in the Holy Land.The bothers was known as the “Knights of St John” or “Knights Hospitaller and Wore” as their symbol “The Eight Pointed Cross”The Knights Hospitaller was from many different Countries. There were “Tongues” from province, Auvergne, France, Italy, Aragon, England, Germany and Castile Portugal.During the Turbulent years of the 12th and 13th Centuries theOrder Developed a Military Wing “Knights Of St John”For 700 Years, in Jerusalem, Cyprus, Rhodes and finally Malta the Order played a cardinal part in Europeon History.

The tongue of England was centered at the Priory of Clerkenwell, which was established, just outside the city of London. The Grand Prior of England ranked as the Premier Baron of England under the title of “Lord Prior of St John”

Foundation of the order at Clerkenwell which is the Headquarters of the order.

The order of St John Includes. (Library and Museum) Land in England were first given the Order of St John in the early 12th century The Headquarters of the Order was established in the Priory of Clerkenwell, just north of the city of London. Grand Prior Thomas Docwra enlarged and beautified the Prior of Clerkenwell, including the south entrance known as the St John Gate. This part of the Priory still stands and now houses, the Library and Museum of the Order which contains many interesting relics of Order in the Holy Land, Rhodes and Malta as well as in this Country. The collection includes Pictures, Furniture, Silver coins, Books and Manuscripts and a St John Ambulance collection.

The Hospitaller were granted the Island of Malta by the Emperor Charles (V) ruler of Austria, Spain, Sicily and many other territories in Europe. The Eight pointed Maltese Cross adopted as the Emblem of the Order of St John.

The grand Priory of England was despoiled of all its property at the dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry (VIII) and although restored to its remaining possessions by Queen Mary (1) was again despoiled by her successor Queen Elizabeth (1).

The Order was expelled from Malta by Napoleon and the Pope established it in Rome.

The Most Venerable Order of St John was reintroduced in England; the Reverent Sir Robert Peat was elected Prior.

Germany-Orders of Sweden and Netherlands. The revival of the Order in England.

Sir John Furley represented the Order at the Geneva Conference after the Crimean War.

outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War introduced new dimensions to the Order of St John.

Key dates

Foundation Of The St John Ambulance Association.

The growth of the First Aid movement increased following the invaluable work of Florence Nightingale’s nursing service in the Crimean War and later with the establishment of the Red Cross under the Geneva Convention of 1864. It occurred to certain members of the Order of The St John (notably Sir Edmund Lechmere and Sir John Furley) that the only way of obtaining effective Ambulance and Nursing Services in Wartime was to provide facilities for training and practice in peacetime. Hence, The foundation of the St John Ambulance Association.

The British Order of St John was firmly established with the Foundation of the St John Ambulance.

Publication of the First Textbook “Aid for Cases of Injuries and Sudden Illness”.

The Foundation of the Ophthalmic Hospital – Jerusalem.

In view of its historical association with the Holy Land the Order decided to found Hospital in Jerusalem, as St John Ophthalmic Hospital (Eye Hospital).

The Foundation of the St John Ambulance Brigade

The St John Ambulance Brigade was established at the request of many people who held First Aid certificates of the Association and who wished to form themselves into a recognized body ready to be of assistance in case of sudden illness or accident.

The incorporation of the Order by Royal Charter granted by H.M.Queen Victoriya thereby acquiring an independent legal status. “The Grand Prior of Most Venerable Order of the Hospital”. Now officially shortened to the Order of St John. Within the grand Priory. There are autonomous Priories in Scotland, Wales, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. There are St John Councils in 38 Countries throughout the World.

Formation of the First Overseas Brigade Divisions in New Zealand.