The Priory Church of the Order of St John of Jerusalem: consecrated March 10th 1185 by Heraclius Patriach {sic} of Jerusalem; destroyed by enemy action on the night of 10th/11th May 1941.
All Enquiries to be made at St John's Gate
The last line on the board suggests that this used to be on display at the front of the building. Perhaps the large empty space was used as a blackboard on which to publicise the times of services, etc.
Museum of St John confirms that Heraclius (re)consecrated this Priory Church. Wikipedia however fails to mention it but does have Heraclius consecrating the Temple Church, off Fleet Street. We were beginning to wonder if there was a mix up between the two churches but the Temple Church acknowledges that Heraclius consecrated both churches.
The white sign gives some information about the cannonball: c.1480, carved granite. Probably from the island of Rhodes and one of the Order's arms, rather than something which was used against them, but it's not clear, and indeed, why would you not fire a cannonball back whence it came?
Site: St John's Cloister Garden of Remembrance (9 memorials)
EC1, St John's Square, St John's Cloister Garden
The cloister garden is accessed through the gates in the building on St John Square. Free to visit and open most days. The garden was first established in the post war reconstruction, the Blitz having removed some buildings which had been on the site.
Most of the memorials are in the cloister (seen in our photo) on the eastern boundary wall of the garden. Walking this from north to south you will see: St John Ambulance Brigade; St John Ambulance Association WW1 and WW2; Interred; Centenary; Joint Committee; Cannonball and Priory Church.
The Crucifixion plaque is low on the external wall of the cloister. The 1907 Repairs plaque is on the garden's north boundary wall (the church's south wall).
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