St John's Day Service of Rededication at St Paul's Cathedral and drinks

Saturday 25 June 2022 @ 2:00 pm at St Paul’s Cathedral

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Join the Gateway group for drinks after attending the Order’s Annual Service of Commemoration and Re-dedication in St Paul’s Cathedral. 24th June marks the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, or “St John’s Day” as we call it. The Order of St John is dedicated to John the Baptist. This is a truly unique service which combines all the grandeur and pageantry of the Order of St John’s historical past with a contemporary message.

The Annual Service offers the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent baroque setting of St Paul’s Cathedral and witness the ceremonial aspects of the Order of St John. The ceremonies of the Order, like those of other orders of chivalry, are based upon those of the Order of the Garter, but have been adapted to suit the circumstances of the Order. For example, the processions reflect a strict hierarchy, with senior members of the Order and the Lord Mayor entering the Cathedral last but exiting first.

The Order symbols are an important part of the ceremonial: the Sword of the Order represents the temporal or earthly jurisdiction of the HM The Queen as Sovereign Head of the Order, and is customarily carried by the most senior member of the Order present. The Cross of the Order represents the spiritual jurisdiction of the Prelate of the Order and is carried before the Priory Dean. The Priory Banner is carried before Representative Officers and Commanders and Knights and Dames of Justice and of Grace of the Order. All these important symbols of the Order, along with the National Colour of St John Ambulance, are received at the High Altar as symbols of loyalty, honour and devotion. The Lord Mayor (who is the elected Mayor of the City of London, not the more recently created office of the Mayor of London) enters last, accompanied by his Sword Bearer and the Sergeant of Arms, carrying the impressively substantial ceremonial Mace.

As impressive as the ceremonial undoubtedly is, it can never overshadow the Order’s guiding purpose: to help all who are in need through sickness, distress, suffering and danger, without distinction of nationality or religious belief.