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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

  • "I absolutely loved it. Such an interesting topic and so well presented. One of my favourite museum experiences ever."
  • "What a gem of a museum! Thank you for an interesting and enlightening visit."
  • "The receptionist is one of the most cheerful and friendly people I've ever met!"

News and events

The Museum secures investment from Arts Council England to conserve St John’s Gate  

We are thrilled to announce that the Museum has been awarded £413,015 in capital investment from Arts Council England’s Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND).

The funding will be used to repair and renew the roofs of St John’s Gate, improve the historic building’s resilience to extreme weather, and add state-of-the-art breathable insulation to increase energy efficiency and reduce our carbon footprint.

These vital improvements will ensure that we can continue to share this remarkable architectural gem with audiences for decades to come. Work will begin later this year and we will remain open and accessible throughout.

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The Museum of the Order of St John Launches Online Collections! 

The Museum of the Order of St John is proud to announce the launch of its online collections platform, opening up centuries of medieval and modern history and heritage to a global audience for the first time. 

Visitors can now explore highlights from the Museum’s rich collections — from rare manuscripts and ceremonial objects to medical innovations and stories of humanitarian service — all from the comfort of their own homes. 

This digital launch marks a major step in making the Museum’s treasures more accessible for researchers, history enthusiasts and the general public alike. 

Explore Collections Online through this link.

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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

“Lansdowne”, Lansdowne 451, f.127, British Library Archive
Medieval History, Medical History, 10 Minute Talks

Leprosy and the Order of St Lazarus

Posted 2 April 2026
Melanie Nightingale

Leprosy has always been an extremely stigmatised condition, oftentimes being associated with aversion, segregation and isolation. What was leprosy, however and what did it involve? Furthermore, why were those with leprosy discriminated against and... Read more

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Digitisation, St John Archive, Volunteering

Some previously unseen photographs from the St John Archive, and Pat finds a photograph of himself!

Posted 1 April 2026
Sophie Denman Archivist

In November 2025, we announced our success in receiving an AIM Museum Fundamentals grant funded by Pilgrim Trust and The Julia Rausing Trust to address our collection of photographic prints (more information here). In this blog post, the... Read more

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Digitisation, St John Archive, St John People, Conservation, Volunteering

An update on our photography project

Posted 12 February 2026
Sophie Denman Sophie Denman (Archivist)

In November 2025, we announced our success in receiving an AIM Museum Fundamentals grant funded by Pilgrim Trust and The Julia Rausing Trust to address our collection of photographic prints (more information here). Read on to find out how the... Read more

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A section of photographic film with a black background and the words 'The End' in cursive white script.
St John Archive, St John Youth, St John People, Volunteering

The Museum launches an Introduction to the Archive Film!

Posted 7 December 2025
Sophie Denman Archivist

It's Explore Your Archive week and today's theme is #YourArchives - what better way to celebrate our archive than to launch our new archive film! Our film is the culmination of our exciting two-year project to catalogue the founding records of St... Read more

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Black and white image of a page of a magazine with the word 'AIDS' in bold black text.
St John Archive, 10 Minute Talks, St John People

World Aids Day and St John Ambulance

Posted 4 December 2025
Rebecca Raven Rebecca Raven (Curator)

Trigger warning: Mentions of homophobia and discrimination The 1980s and 90s were a period marked by fear, stigma and misinformation, but also courage, compassion and community response. While public understanding lagged and prejudice was... 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: