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

  • "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

A plane used by one of the Airwing’s volunteer pilots. Click to expand image A plane used by one of the Airwing’s volunteer pilots.
Free, Ten-Minute Talk and Tea

Thursday 14th July

12:30pm
Ten-Minute Talk and Tea Come Fly with Me: the St John Ambulance Airwing

Discover more about the Order of St John, St John Ambulance and the history of Clerkenwell at our free Ten-Minute Talk and Tea events which takes place on the second Thursday of every month. Tea and biscuits will be provided.

In this talk, Archivist Sophie Denman explores the St John Ambulance Airwing, a special volunteer air service for the rapid transportation of human organs, urgent medical supplies, and patients. Find out why the Airwing was created and reached the dizzying heights of its success, and hear about some of the volunteers’ successful missions.

This is a free event. Drop-ins welcome, or you can pre-register here. The event will take place in the Museum Galleries which are on ground level with step-free access throughout.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR EVENTS
Click to expand image
Booking essential, Escape room

Saturday 30th April - Saturday 31st December

Multiple times
Escape Room: Treason!

Someone has been leaking parliamentary debates to The Gentleman’s Magazine, a treasonable offence in the 1740s. Come and solve this 280-year-old crime in the very room that it occurred!

For a limited time only, the Museum of the Order of St John opens up its Council Chamber and revisits the room’s historic use as the editorial hub of The Gentleman’s Magazine, one of the most widely read publications in Georgian London.

Players will have 60 minutes while the editors are out to lunch to snoop around and figure out who has been causing international uproar by leaking parliamentary reports. By using your powers of deduction and lateral thinking, can you solve the mystery?

Even historians have struggled to uncover this secret over the years. No previous knowledge needed. Keen observation and exceptional teamwork will serve you well in identifying the rogue reporter.

To buy tickets and read FAQ please click here.

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

Colour illustration of a man-made mount, covered in grass, with a flag at the top and various figures round about. Original View of the So-Called Cockaigne, Saverio Satariano, 1820s, image © Museum of the Order of St John, London
10 Minute Talks

10 Minute Talk and Tea: Letters from the Kitchen - Food Throughout the History of St John

Posted 28 May 2022
Museum of the Order of St John Sarah Wilkinson, Curator

Food has always been a fundamental part of human history and culture, and this is no different for the Order of St John. In the Order’s first hospital in Jerusalem the diet of the patients was given as much attention as their medical care. In the... Read more

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A black and white photograph showing a young, proud looking Betty Quinn in a black ARP uniform jacket and hat. On her chest is a medal which another woman is is looking at smiling. Betty Quinn, a Cadet Corporal in the Coventry St John Ambulance Brigade Division receiving a George Medal for gallantry in 1941 (St John Ambulance Brigade Cadets, 21st Anniversary Illustrated Review p15)
10 Minute Talks

10 Minute Talk and Tea: Celebrating 100 Years of Young Lifesavers

Posted 17 May 2022
Museum of the Order of St John Hannah Agass, Learning and Engagement Manager

Although young people have been involved in the lifesaving work of St John Ambulance since the 1880s, it was not until March 1922 that the St John Ambulance Brigade Cadets were inaugurated . The success of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides (formed in... Read more

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Books, History

The World in a Book

Posted 3 March 2022
Museum of the Order of St John Raphaëlle Goyeau, Project Librarian

On World Book Day 2022, it seems fitting to explore one of the gems from our historic library, a 16th century book of maps and geography.  [caption id="attachment_18467" align="aligncenter" width="712"] A mappemonde from l'Isole piu famose del... Read more

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Books and manuscripts in the Historic Library
Uncategorized

A behind the scenes look into cataloguing rare materials

Posted 9 April 2021
Museum of the Order of St John Adriana Celmare - Project Librarian

Special collections libraries, like the one currently housed in the West Tower of the Museum of the Order of St John, often hold a wealth of rare and unique materials such as early printed books, manuscripts, maps, historic documents, journals or... Read more

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Black and white photograph of three girls and two boys in St John Ambulance Cadet uniforms All five siblings of the Pring family from Bristol were St John Ambulance Cadets. They were photographed for the St John Review in April 1977
St John Youth

Current and former Cadets and Badgers – can you help? 

Posted 27 March 2021
Museum of the Order of St John Rachel Job, collections and engagement assistant

[caption id="attachment_17808" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] All five siblings of the Pring family from Bristol were St John Ambulance Cadets. They were photographed for the St John Review in April 1977[/caption] The Museum has recently... 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: