Plaque

Cannonball and Priory Church

Inscription

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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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Cannonball and Priory Church

Subjects commemorated i

Order of St John of Jerusalem

Order of St John of Jerusalem The Order of St John of Jerusalem combined reli...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Cannonball and Priory Church

Created by i

Heraclius of Jerusalem

Heraclius or Eraclius was archbishop of Caesarea and Latin Patriarch of Jerus...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Cannonball and Priory Church

Also at this site i

Crucifixion

Crucifixion

The crucifixion sculpture was created by Cecil Thomas and installed as part o...

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Joint Committee Chairmen

Joint Committee Chairmen

Boards like this, listing the holders of high offices in the organisation, ar...

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Order of St John - interred here

Order of St John - interred here

Each name is given with the year of birth and death, and a post-nominal relat...

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Organ donors

Organ donors

As you can see in this photo, the plaque was unveiled inside, on a table, wit...

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St John Ambulance Association WW1 and WW2

St John Ambulance Association WW1 and WW2

This cloister and garden commemorate the members of the Order of St John and ...

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Nearby Memorials