The beautiful setting of St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge, London saw the National Investiture of the Grand Priory of England and Wales on Saturday 29th April 2017.
With over 150 members, visitors and guests in attendance, the Choir of St Paul’s sang the Introit ‘I was glad’ as the Investing Officer, the Bailiff H.E. The Chevalier Charles Holloway GCLJ, KMLJ,...
moreOver 70 members and guests gathered in the prestigious surroundings of the Cholmondeley Room of the House of Lords on the evening of 14 November for a charity dinner, hosted by our Grand Prior, the Marquis of Lothian. Every Commandery was represented, and we were pleased to be able to welcome guests from farther afield, including Chev. Lars Sahlin KCLJ, the Chair of the International Public Relations Committee, and his wife Irene, who had travelled from Sweden to join the festivities.
Inspired by a rallying pre-pilgrimage itinerary message from Fr Ian Evans QHC, SChLJ, the Chaplain-General, eighteen pilgrims, under the auspices of the Commandery of Wales, made the 250-mile journey on Friday 22nd July 2016 to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. Six of the group were first time Walsingham pilgrims.
After Vespers and supper, the pilgrim group gathered in The Orangery for an illustrated lecture on the history of Walsingham given by the Commander of Wales, Dr David Woolf KLJ, a Member of the Order of Our Lady of Walsingham.
A new water purification unit has been installed at the Leprosy Hospital of Believers’ Church of Purulia, India, sponsored by the Order of St Lazarus and organised by Ramakrishna Vivekananda Mission, India. The money was raised by members of the Commandery of John of Gaunt. Samir from Purulia writes that it has been of enormous benefit for...
moreThe 2016 Spring National Vigil & Investiture of the Grand Priory took place at Belmont Abbey, Herefordshire, hosted by the Commandery of Wales whose Commander, Chevalier Dr David Woolf KLJ, is to be congratulated on his hard work and attention to detail, which contributed in no small part to a successful occasion.
Nearly 70 members and guests attended the Vigil at...
moreFor the past year, the St Lazarus Charitable Trust has been able to support the work of Canon Pat Atkinson and the Vidiyal Trust, working in one of the most deprived areas of India. Canon Pat wrote in January:
“Today has been a red letter day in that I have been able to gain entry to the government leprosy home and clinic. It has taken 2 years, but I am over the moon to have finally broken a big barrier down! I have spent the whole of this afternoon with the patients, most of whom are severely disfigured. Several from the colony we have been helping for the past couple of years...
moreOver 25 years ago, leading members of the Order concluded that corruption and inadequate governance were barriers to development and reducing the impact of foreign aid in many ‘third world’ countries; and also significantly reducing the benefits that local populations were receiving from the exploitation of natural resources. The Order's International Governance Initiative was established to address these and related issues such as reducing fraud and promoting responsible and ethical practices in business and Government. It has been headed since its formation by Prof. Colin Coulson-Thomas...
moreThe Commandery of Cumbria was privileged to host the Spring National Investiture of the Grand Priory in Carlisle on the 17-18 April. The heavens smiled upon us and we were treated to glorious weather on both Friday and Saturday.
The Vigil Service was held at Lanercost Priory, on Friday evening, conducted by the Chaplain-General, Colonel The Reverend Fr. Ian Evans SChLJ, MMLJ, SCF. Members were then taken to Naworth Castle, home of the illustrious Howard family. Here they were welcomed by the owner, Philip Howard, brother and heir presumptive oif the 13th Earl of Carlisle, who gave a...
more
The Commandery of Avalon hosted this year’s Southern Investiture in Exeter on the 25th October, and we were treated kindly by the weather when the Bailiff and members, headed by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Exeter, with The Hon. Miss Ann Widdecombe, DSG as an honoured guest, moved in procession from the Guildhall to the splendour of the Cathedral Quire. The service was conducted by the Commander of Avalon, the Reverend Louis Baycock, ECLJ, the address given by the Reverend Canon Brendan Clover ChLJ MMLJ, Senior Provost of Woodard Schools, the first lesson was read by the...
moreOn the afternoon of 10 November, almost 70 members and guests from England and Wales gathered in the splendid surroundings of the Cholmondeley Room and Terrace of the House of Lords for tea with our new Grand Prior, the Marquis of Lothian.
Despite the gloomy weather outside, the atmosphere was animated, and the views across the Thames as...
more