Discover the living legacy of England’s medieval knights and crusaders.
The revived Order of Saint Thomas of Canterbury continues the sacred ideals of the hospitallers from Acre through devotion, honour, and service, bridging the enduring spirit of chivalry with the Christian life of today.
This order of chivalry, also known as an order of knights, reflects the noble traditions of knighthood in the Middle Ages, when medieval knights and crusaders upheld faith, honour, and duty as sacred vows.
Rooted in the ideal of the monk and warrior, these knights were devoted both to prayer and protection, combining religious devotion with military discipline and dedicating their lives to defending pilgrims and preserving Christian virtue throughout Europe and the Holy Land.
The earliest orders of knighthood of the Middle Ages arose in the Holy Land during the Crusades, when crusaders offered protection, shelter, and spiritual guidance to Christian pilgrims. Living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, these medieval knights defended the weak and safeguarded the faith. Papal recognition established their brotherhoods as true religious institutions under canon law.
Welcome to the Hospitallers of Saint Thomas of Canterbury, also known as the Knights of Saint Thomas — a revived order of chivalry that carries forward the sacred heritage of England’s medieval knights and crusaders.
We are a living link between the knighthood of the Middle Ages and the modern world, upholding the timeless virtues of devotion, commitment, and honour. The story of the Knights of Saint Thomas begins in the heart of the Crusades, when English knights journeyed to the Holy Land to defend pilgrims and protect the sacred sites of Christianity.
Founded in July 1191, the Hospitallers of Saint Thomas of Canterbury at Acre were inspired by Saint Thomas Becket, the martyred Archbishop of Canterbury and defender of the faith.
This was one of England’s earliest Christian orders of knighthood, established not only for combat but also for compassion — caring for wounded crusaders, tending the poor, and defending the vulnerable. Over time, the Hospitallers became a symbol of medieval chivalry, representing courage, discipline, and charity from the Crusader States of Jerusalem to the hospitals of medieval England.
Today, the revived Order of Saint Thomas of Canterbury honours that legacy — not through arms, but through service, charity, and civic duty.
Our modern order of knighthood is structured according to traditional ranks and guided by timeless moral principles that define every true order of chivalry.
Our mission includes:
Through these efforts, our knightly order ensures that the spirit of chivalry and the legacy of England’s crusaders and hospitallers continue to inspire generations to come.
At the heart of every order of chivalry lies a moral compass — a sacred code guiding knights to live with virtue, justice, and selflessness.
Our order preserves and practises this code of chivalry, embracing seven enduring virtues that defined the medieval crusaders and hospitallers:
These principles are not abstract ideals of crusaders — they are a living guide for every knight and dame within our modern order in the United Kingdom.
Knighthood in the Middle Ages was not a privilege of birth but a sacred calling to serve God, the Church, and the community. Similarly, in our modern order of knights in England, membership is earned through devotion, charity, and integrity — not status.
The Hospitallers of Saint Thomas of Canterbury are more than a historical memory - we are a modern order of chivalry active across England, serving God, communities, and country.
Our members come from all recognised Christian denominations, united by a shared mission: to embody the spirit of medieval knighthood through faith, charity, and civic duty. We are a non-political, non-Masonic, and non-profit fellowship, governed by Christian ethics and open to all who share our values.
Our mission continues the ancient calling of the crusaders and hospitallers — to heal, to serve, and to protect, not through battle, but through compassion, faith, and public service. If you wish to:
…then you may be called to join a modern order of knights in England.
By joining our Hospitallers, you become part of a modern order of chivalry that unites faith, service, and tradition, preserving the noble heritage of England’s crusaders.
Many see chivalry as a relic of the past, yet for us, it remains a living path.
To join our Hospitallers in the 21st century is to uphold the same virtues that guided the Christian knights of old: humility, duty, courage, and love of neighbour.
Our modern order of knighthood bridges ancient and modern times, adapting the ideals of the Crusader orders to today’s needs, caring for the poor, serving the Church, and building moral leadership in society. True knighthood is not defined by title or ceremony, but by a life lived in service, sacrifice, and virtue.
As a modern order of chivalry, we carry the torch of Christian knighthood into the present age, bringing the light of faith and honour into a world too often darkened by selfishness. If you feel called to serve, deepen your faith, and live by the ideals of honour and charity - we welcome you.
Join us and begin your journey.
Discover the path of modern knighthood in England, live the virtues of chivalry, and carry forward a legacy of English crusaders and hospitallers.