Who we are
receives a gift from Dr Chilemba,
Chairman of the
St John Association in Malawi
In its early years, the Order of St John operated throughout the United Kingdom providing training in first aid and an ambulance service. However, St Andrew's Ambulance Association was formed later and began similar activities activities, both in Scotland and England. In 1908 it was agreed that St Andrew's would handle first aid training north of the border and St John south of it.
By the 1940s, some of the Scottish members of St John felt there was scope for the Order to undertake a variety of public services in Scotland. In 1947, the Scottish Priory was formed and since then, from a standing start, it has achieved remarkable success in meeting a wide diversity of need.
Each year a festival is held in a different place in Scotland where Priory members who have shown exceptional commitment to the work of St John are invested as new or promoted members of the Order in recognition of their work.
Head Office
The Chancery, or headquarters, of the Priory of Scotland is at St John's House, Edinburgh. This early eighteenth-century house lies off the Royal Mile a little below the site of St John's Cross in the Canongate. It was built for the Wemyss family and generously gifted to the Order in 1971 by the late James Watt KStJ.
Gift Shop
The St John Gift Shop is at 20 Deanhaugh Street, Stockbridge, Edinburgh. Stock is always required and members are encouraged to donate books, ornaments and other bric-à-brac, and to buy from the shop knowing that all profits are used to the benefit of the Order.