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

  • “When you feel the world is going mad, come here. You will see that for years and all over the world, some people care for others. Humanity is good. Thanks to all these people.”
  • "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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#Valletta2018, Guided tour, Special Event

Wednesday 15th August - Wednesday 26th September

6:00pm
Evening Guided Tour: A Mini-Break to Malta

This exclusive evening tour will uncover the surprising story of Malta, home to the Knights of St John for over 250 years. Enjoy a glass of wine and an opportunity to explore our Museum galleries after hours, before travelling on a journey through Maltese history.

Learn how a group of crusading knights first came to the island, and discover the dramatic role that they played in the battle for control over the Mediterranean from the 16th-18th centuries.

This hour-long tour will include a chance to see many of the Museum’s Maltese treasures, including historic arms, fine furniture, rare coins, and maps not normally on public display.

Evening tours will take place on Wednesday 15 August and Wednesday 26 September.

The galleries will open from 6.00pm, and tour will begin at 6.30pm.

Tickets for this event cost £8.00 and must be purchased in advance here.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR EVENTS
Edward Carauana Dingli in Chapter Hall Click to expand image Edward Carauana Dingli in Chapter Hall
#Valletta2018, Exhibition, Free

Monday 20th August - Sunday 30th September

10.00am - 5.00pm
Edward Caruana Dingli: All in Order

See some of the lesser known works of this Maltese artist and Knight of St John, from portraits to portrait medals. Previously unseen sketches and designs give an insight in to the methods of this master.

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We have been shortlisted for a Family Friendly Museum Award!

We are proud to announce that we have been shortlisted for Kid’s In Museum’s Family Friendly Museum Award! Kids in Museums is a national charity dedicated to ensuring that all children, young people and families feel welcomed and involved in museums and other heritage sites. We are very proud of our free family programme and think that it’s worth celebrating! We hope to see lots of families at our events through out the summer.

READ MORE ABOUT HIRING OUR VENUES
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#Valletta2018, 10 Minute Talk, Free

Wednesday 12th September

12.30pm
On the Galleys, in the Prisons and at Home: Looking at the Slave Trade in Malta

Recognising the importance of discussing the history of the slave trade in the Mediterranean, this talk will look at slavery in Malta, from slave labour on the galley ships to domestic slavery in Maltese homes. The Knights of St John were among many people who used slavery for economic means but also as a demonstration of power and the dominance of religion.

Using collections from the Museum archives, this short talk will explore how the slave trade shaped Malta. Join us from 12.00pm with discussion over coffee and biscuits.

 

READ MORE ABOUT OUR EVENTS
  • 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

History

100 Years of Film

Posted 16 August 2018
Museum of the Order of St John Isobel MacAuslan, Museum Assistant

2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the introduction of film to St John Ambulance’s teaching repertoire. If you have been on one of St John’s First Aid Courses today, you will know that visual media is an important part of their teaching... Read more

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Black and white photograph of Susie George in uniform looking back whilst stepping into an aeroplane Susie at the inauguration of the first Air Unit, Berkshire. 1947
Volunteering, Collection Highlights

Medals and their Stories: The Medals of Susie George

Posted 1 August 2018
Museum of the Order of St John Katherine Emery, Collections Volunteer

In the collections of the Museum of the Order of St John is a group of medals awarded to Susie George.  Each medal hints at Susie’s extraordinary service, and I was keen to discover more about the woman who earned these medals. Read more

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18th Century painting of Valletta and the Three Cities. Looks onto the city and the harbors from the sea.
#Valletta2018, Wednesday Talks

The French Revolution and the Loss of Malta

Posted 18 July 2018
Museum of the Order of St John Isobel MacAuslan, Museum Assistant

In our collection we hold a letter sent by a member of the French Order of St John in the year 1789. Whilst the majority of the letter is concerned with the death of the Commander of Golfech, there are a number of references to the troubling... Read more

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ALT="" Liam holding the Bonham Memorial Cup
Learning, History

The story of a trophy: work experience at the Museum

Posted 9 June 2018
Museum of the Order of St John Liam, work experience student

[caption id="attachment_15826" align="aligncenter" width="486"] Liam holding the Bonham Memorial Cup[/caption] Hi, my name is Liam and I'm a student at Hertford Regional College. I wanted to do my work experience at the Museum of the Order of St... Read more

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Techno Medioevo exhibition graphics
Exhibition

Techno Medioevo: Age of Future Reloaded

Posted 1 May 2018
Museum of the Order of St John

Scenes, Visions and Fragments from an Alternative History 1st March – 16th June 2018   What would the past have been like in the Middle Ages if the future had happened before? Inspired by this statement, TECHNO MEDIOEVO: Age... 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: