The Museum of the Order of St John

The unique and fascinating story of an ancient religious military Order, from its origins caring for sick pilgrims in eleventh century Jerusalem, through to its modern-day role with St John Ambulance, the international first aid charity.

What our visitors say

  • “A very enjoyable tour. The guides were marvellous. I look forward to another visit.”
  • "Lovely visit, my 5 year old son enjoyed the children's activity trail which we did together - very engaging, thank you!"
  • "Thank you to the kind man at reception who helped with Dad’s wheelchair! Great museum!"
  • "St John Ambulance saved my life on 1st March 2015 so I came here to learn more. Keep up the good work!"

News and events

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We Need Your Help!

Family Friendly Museum Award

April and May 2018

This year, for the first time ever, The Museum of the Order of St John will be entering the Kids in Museum’s Family Friendly Museum Award, and we need your help.

We are very proud of our free family programme, and we hope you will agree it is worth celebrating. We invite families visiting St John’s Gate to take one of our free Museum trails, have a go at an activity sheet, or get hands-on with the activity buckets in our galleries. Our free storytelling sessions and craft workshops, which are run every school holiday, offer opportunities for families to get creative, learn and have fun together in a safe and friendly environment.

Have we convinced you? Then all you need to do is click below. It will only take a couple of minutes to nominate the Museum, so please show your support.

Nominate now

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Exhibition

Thursday 1st March - Saturday 16th June

10.00-17.00
Techno Medioevo

What would the past have been like in the Middle Ages if the future had happened before?

Inspired by this statement, TECHNO MEDIOEVO: Age of Future Reloaded presents the work of a contemporary art collective, and many pieces have been created specifically for this exhibition – as a conceptual riposte to this question, and as a physical response to the environment of the medieval St John’s Gate, home to the Museum of the Order of St John.

In exhibiting modern and conceptual art alongside the historic artefacts in the galleries of the Museum of the Order of St John, TECHNO MEDIOEVO: Age of Future Reloaded presents an opportunity for the Museum of the order of St John to reflect both on the ancient and the modern.

Entry to this exhibition is free and can be seen during the museum’s regular opening hours.

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Public Events Programme 2018

In celebration of Valletta’s status as the 2018 European Capital of Culture, we have planned an exciting programme of events from talks and tours, to film screenings and pub quizzes. To find out more, please see our Public Programme.

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  • View of the interior of the Priory Church of the Order of St John The Priory Church of the Order of St John. Photography by Shaun Le Gassick
  • View of the interior of the Crypt of the Priory Church of the Order of St John The Crypt. Photography by Shaun Le Gassick
  • View of the Link Gallery of the Museum of the Order of St John The Link Gallery. © MOSJ
  • ALT= The Cloister Garden. © MOSJ
  • ALT= The Chapter Hall. © MOSJ

Blog

Engraving, 1646 by Matthaeus Merian. Credit: Wellcome Collection CC BY
Wednesday Talks

Disease and Dissection: A history of surgery in Malta

Posted 14 March 2018
Museum of the Order of St John Sharda Rozena, Museum Assistant

When the Order of St John was granted the island of Malta in 1530, surgical techniques and practices radically improved. Read more

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A photograph of Veronica Nisbet Veronica Nisbet, by kind permission of her family.
History

Veronica Nisbet: Volunteering and the Vote for Women

Posted 8 March 2018
Museum of the Order of St John Hannah Agass, Learning and Access Officer

From a middle-class household and trained for marriage and domesticity, Veronica Nisbet was never meant to go to war. Read more

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A black ribbon with a small white eight pointed cross with lion and unicorn supporters in silver hanging from the centre of the bow" Miniature Officer Sister Insignia
Volunteering, Collection Highlights

Creating a catalogue from chaos - a week in the life of a volunteer

Posted 26 February 2018
Museum of the Order of St John Anna Lorusso, Collections Volunteer

As a volunteer, you are given the unique task of aiding a museum or institution. In the week or so that I have been volunteering here, I have been involved in a variety of tasks, however menial they may seem; these small tasks will... Read more

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ALT="Cover of Barbara Cartland's novel 'The Dream and the Glory' showing sailor holding a lady in a pink dress on the deck of a ship during a battle"
History, Wednesday Talks

Barbara Cartland and St John Ambulance: Love and Devotion

Posted 15 February 2018
Museum of the Order of St John Justin Bailey, Museum Office Assistant

Barbara Cartland was at one time among the best-known media personalities in Britain. Famed for her prolific output as a writer, she published some 700 romance novels in her lifetime and was dubbed the “Queen of Romance” by Vogue... Read more

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ALT="red 3D scan of a coin"
Uncategorized

Reimaging and Reimagining our Coin Collections

Posted 1 February 2018
Museum of the Order of St John Justin Bailey - museum office assistant

The Museum of the Order of St John has a unique collection of coins dating from the 12th to the 16th Centuries, representing some of the many kingdoms and principalities which sprang into existence across the Mediterranean and the Near East during... Read more

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Sponsors

The Museum of the Order of St John would like to thank all those who have supported and continue to support its work. In particular, the Museum would like to thank the following for their generosity: