This anniversary exhibition of the Order provides a snapshot of its history since its inception in 1572 and the expansion from its origins in Spain to over 50 countries throughout the world.
We then focus on its work in England that started in 1880 which provides the foundations of SJOG as we know it today.
John Cuidad, who is known today as Saint John of God the patron saint of the sick, was born in 1495. He dedicated his adult life to the care of the poor and sick, and establishing hospitals that changed the medical practices of the day. Having experienced treatment for mental illness at first hand, he fought to change practice so that people were treated with love and compassion.
He looked after people no-one else would and people soon followed in his way – the Hospitaller way.
From a single man to a religious order
John of God’s following grew into a religious order - the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God as we know it to be called in the UK, and which today is present in over 50 countries over 5 continents and impacts daily on the lives of millions of people.
The beginning
The history of the Order began with John of God’s death on 8 March 1550 –in the middle of the 16th century and was formally recognised in 1572: by means of the Papal Bull ‘Licet ex debito’, St Pius V approved the Brothers as a Congregation.
From Spain to across the world.
John of God’s first companions joined him in Granada in the years before his death in 1550 and in increasing numbers, men joined the Brotherhood of John of God. Two hospitals in Granada, Spain were established prior to his death and became the blueprint of those to open after his death and continued in the following five centuries throughout Europe and all 5 continents of the world.
1629: Sometime before this year a change had taken place in the emblem of the Order. Initially the emblem of the Order was a representation of the pilgrim’s, or traveller’s staff, that John of God carried when making his rounds of both the city and the countryside. On the right hung a coin box with a cross engraved on the front; on the left hung a large basket of bread, meat and other commodities.
The change was the substitution of the pomegranate for the staff. The pomegranate continues to be prominent in the iconography of the Order. The word pomegranate also means “Apple of Granada”. It is the coat of arms of the municipality of Granada. In the emblem of the Order the pomegranate is surmounted by a cross which signifies the suffering to which the mission of the Order is directed.
At this time the Brothers were dressing in a ‘habit’ that was really a normal style of dress for the period. This enabled imposters to collect alms [donations] in the name of the Brothers. So they decided to ask Pope Pius V to recognise their fraternity as a religious institute and, amongst other privileges, to allow them to wear a monastic scapular.
The habit worn by the Brothers before 1589 was made of unbleached material, resulting in varying shades of “off white”. The new Constitutions specified that it be made of a black and white striped coarse woollen material, which looked rather like common mattress ticking although the black stripe was wider and gave the habit a darker look. The Constitutions also set down that the Brothers should wear rope sandals and could use a wide brimmed hat and cloak for travelling. The cowl, formerly long and narrow, was now shortened and rounded, because of a petition by the Capuchin Friars to the Holy See, which claimed that Hospitaller Brothers were often mistaken for Capuchins.
This was also the year in which the modern habit finally emerged in its present form, described in the 2009 General Statutes of the Order as coloured either black or white and composed of a robe, gathered at the waist with a cincture that hangs down the left side and a scapular with a hood.
The habit worn by the Brothers before 1589 was made of unbleached material, resulting in varying shades of “off white”. The new Constitutions specified that it be made of a black and white striped coarse woollen material, which looked rather like common mattress ticking although the black stripe was wider and gave the habit a darker look. The Constitutions also set down that the Brothers should wear rope sandals and could use a wide brimmed hat and cloak for travelling. The cowl, formerly long and narrow, was now shortened and rounded, because of a petition by the Capuchin Friars to the Holy See, which claimed that Hospitaller Brothers were often mistaken for Capuchins.
Founder of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God
Born: 1495 in Montemor-o-Novo (Portugal)
Died: 1550 in Granada (Spain)
Beatified on 21 Sept 1630 by Urban VIII
Canonised on 16 Oct 1690 by Alexander VIII
Born: 1546 in Carmona (Spain)
Died: 1600 in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)
Beatified on 13 Nov 1853 by Pius IX
Canonised on 2 Jun 1996 by John Paul II
Born: 1841 in Milan (Italy)
Died: 1914 in Dinan (France)
Beatified by the Holy Father John Paul II on 23 Jun 1985
Canonised by the Holy Father John Paul II on 21 Nov 1999
Born: 1897 in Trivolzio (Italy)
Died: 1930 in Milan (Italy)
Beatified by Blessed John Paul II on 4 Oct 1981
Canonised by Blessed John Paul II on 1 Nov 1989
Born: 1546 in Carmona (Spain)
Died: 1600 in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)
Beatified on 13 Nov 1853 by Pius IX
Canonised on 2 Jun 1996 by John Paul II
Born: 1897 in Trivolzio (Italy)
Died: 1930 in Milan (Italy)
Beatified by Blessed John Paul II on 4 Oct 1981
Canonised by Blessed John Paul II on 1 Nov 1989
French Brothers arrive in the UK begin the Order’s first work. They remain in Scorton, North Yorkshire until 2005.
The first patient to be received into the new foundation was a Mr Thomas Wilkinson who was blind, deaf and dumb.
The first patient to be received into the new foundation was a Mr Thomas Wilkinson who was blind, deaf and dumb.
In 1880 the French Province of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God received an invitation to take possession of buildings in Scorton, a peaceful small village in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The idea was to create a foundation for ‘unwanted people’, known then as cripples and incurables.
The new hospital was to be for the old and infirm and, in time, was to receive wonderful support from a predominantly Methodist population.
The original community was made up of four Brothers assigned to Scorton from Sandymount, Dublin: Brother Louis Gandet, Brother Aristides Merimée, and Brother Anastasius Goethe (who had all been Founder Brothers in Dublin), and Brother Norbert Paveleck who was nominated Prior of the new community.
Thus, the Hospitaller Order at Scorton was established. The four Brothers were later joined by five English-speaking postulants from France to begin their novitiate with Father Louis Gandet as Novice Master and Chaplain.
By the end of the first year, the hospital was caring for 15 patients; by 1905, there were 96. The following year the number of patients rose to 110 and in 1912 the number of resident patients totalled 135.
The soaring costs of the hospital required Brothers to collect money in order to support their mission. ‘Brother collectors’ became well known, not only in the immediate vicinity of the hospital but as far as Leeds and Newcastle. Brother Victor Grevin, was a very well-known collector all over the north of England for more than 50 years. Brother Victor collapsed and died in a shop doorway at Richmond in 1951 whilst collecting. He was the last of the French Brothers at Scorton.
In the early days, the Saint John of God Hospital had its own farm of about five acres of land which supported cows, pigs and poultry, along with a couple of horses. There were two kitchen gardens and a greenhouse. There were also outbuildings and a dairy, laundry, linen and boot rooms, and outside the walled enclosure, several cottages. Among the first lay staff were two farm labourers. In 1885 the chapel at Scorton was registered as a place of worship and later, in 1897, was duly registered for the solemnisation of marriages.
The foundation expands and more land is purchased.
The Brothers have a new hospital built with accommodation for 200 patients.
Scorton accommodates the nursing school and the novice Brothers from England and Ireland.
The Brothers have a new hospital built with accommodation for 200 patients.
During the first decade of the 20th century, the foundation continued to expand. In 1901 more land was purchased at Scorton and in 1907 the cemetery was extended.
A year later, an even greater undertaking was unveiled at the October Chapter meeting.
Plans for a new hospital were perused, discussed and approved. Two hundred hospital beds were bought for the new hospital and two new houses were built adjacent to the two houses already there.
Besides offering better accommodation and care, it had now doubled the bed spaces available.
On 29th September 1913, the new hospital was officially opened and solemnly blessed by Bishop Lacy, Bishop of Middlesbrough.
Less than a year later, the country was plunged into the horrors of the First World War.
Some of the German-speaking Brothers were natives of Alsace and it was decided that they should return to France for fear that they might be interned in England.
As the carnage in Europe continued, the hospital opened a Red Cross ward for soldiers returning from the front lines.
Meanwhile, at Scorton the daily lives of the Brothers were very spartan. They rose at daybreak, washed in cold water, attended chapel four times each day, and when they retired to bed after the night prayers were not permitted to speak until after the next morning’s prayers.
Meals were also eaten in silence while one of the Brothers read from devotional books. But they were completely committed to their charges and spent many hours each day attending to their needs.
During the early 1930s living conditions at Scorton Hospital were greatly improved.
The Order was requested to consider having ‘a colony in England for Catholic male adult mental defectives and epileptics’.
The Brothers took over the running of Wiseman House at Walthamstow in London – an orphanage for boys between 11 and 15 years of age.
The Brothers took over the management of the Blessed John Southworth Hostel in Vauxhall Bridge Road, London.
The General Chapter approved raising the Delegation to the status of Province. The title Province of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was granted on 31st May 1934.
The Order was requested to consider having ‘a colony in England for Catholic male adult mental defectives and epileptics’.
The Brothers took over the management of the Blessed John Southworth Hostel in Vauxhall Bridge Road, London.
The General Chapter approved raising the Delegation to the status of Province. The title Province of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was granted on 31st May 1934.
The building was wired for electricity. Also, a silent film projector was purchased so that patients could enjoy film shows during the long winter evenings.
A major project during this period was the re-ordering of the chapel at Scorton.
It had long been the wish of Father Louis Gandet to have the steps in the chapel removed, in order to ease the way for the disabled among the patients in the hospital who could not gain easy access.
To this end, the Irish-English Delegation took possession of Barvin Park in Hertfordshire at the request of the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Francis Bourne.
The centre opened officially on 1st October 1931 and would remain a service of the Order until it closed in 1994.
This later, in 1938, became a hostel for working boys.
The Brothers withdrew and the orphans were transferred back to Mill Hill.
Named St Joseph’s Hostel, the new premises came into operation on 24th December 1938 and were officially opened by Cardinal Hinsley.
The Second World War and at Scorton conditions were particularly adverse.
A significant change was made to the well-established customs of the Hospitallers - the French language was no longer to be used.
Following the establishment of the National Health Service, Saint John of God Hospital in Scorton is accorded the status of a general hospital.
The Brothers buy Rockliffe Park in Hurworth, near Darlington, formerly owned by Lord Southampton.
A significant change was made to the well-established customs of the Hospitallers - the French language was no longer to be used.
The Brothers buy Rockliffe Park in Hurworth, near Darlington, formerly owned by Lord Southampton.
Because the village was close to the RAF base at Leeming the danger of air raids was constant.
Wartime restrictions, rationing and the lack of communication with the Mother House after the fall of France made life very difficult for the Brothers, several of whom were not English and therefore felt isolated.
The war ended in Europe in May 1945, only to be followed by years of grim austerity.
Brother Joseph Carroll recalls his days as a young Brother at Scorton following a strict regime that permitted “a bath once a week, one clean bed sheet a week, a very short haircut and a life governed by bells. And I don’t mean the whisky!” he adds.
Named Saint Cuthbert’s Hospital, it was established to treat patients with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, and other incurable conditions.
It also served as a tuberculosis sanatorium and an orthopaedic centre.
A 17-bed surgical ward is established in the hospital. The first major operation here was performed in July 1950.
It was announced that the General Nursing Council had approved the hospital for part of the training for State Registration in Nursing.
A new foundation is established. Saint John of God at Silverdale in Lancashire becomes a hospital for the chronically sick.
The English Province of Saint Bede is established with Brother Bernard Burke becoming its first provincial.
It was announced that the General Nursing Council had approved the hospital for part of the training for State Registration in Nursing.
A new foundation is established. Saint John of God at Silverdale in Lancashire becomes a hospital for the chronically sick.
At the Intermediate Chapter of the Irish-English Province held at Stillorgan in April 1950, it was proposed that the Irish-English Province should be divided into two separate Provinces.
By a rescript of the Sacred Congregation of 26 July 1950, the houses of the Order in England were separated from the Province of Ireland and became the Vice Province of Saint Bede.
The Vice Province was officially erected on 15th August 1950 and was raised to the status of Province at the 1953 General Chapter.
The Brothers go to Zambia (called Northern Rhodesia at the time) with the intention to open a psychiatric hospital – Chainama Hills, Lusaka.
In Mpanshya, a hundred miles away from the hospital in Lusaka, the Brothers started a clinic in the Bush, which a little later became a hospital, and at Mua, Ntkataka in Malawi two Brothers began working with the Sisters of Our Lady of Africa in the leprosarium where they remained for nine years.
The hospital is providing a wide range of services.
The Order in England becomes registered as a charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
This year saw an important change to the working practices at the hospital as women became members of the nursing staff at Scorton for the first time.
Woodlands Hospital, Lusaka
In Mpanshya, a hundred miles away from the hospital in Lusaka, the Brothers started a clinic in the Bush, which a little later became a hospital, and at Mua, Ntkataka in Malawi two Brothers began working with the Sisters of Our Lady of Africa in the leprosarium where they remained for nine years.
The Order in England becomes registered as a charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
This year saw an important change to the working practices at the hospital as women became members of the nursing staff at Scorton for the first time.
Some time before the Second World War, the Brothers were asked if they would go out to Northern Rhodesia to open a psychiatric hospital.
They indicated their willingness to do this but war broke out and the venture had to be postponed.
After the war and many other obstacles Brother Wilfrid Benning finally met with the Bishop of Lusaka and government officials, following which the English Province had a definite undertaking to take on this work.
It would be carried out in harmony with a community of Franciscan Sisters. They would also establish a psychiatric training school.
On 15 August 1961, Brother Joseph Carroll led the first group of Brothers, Gerard Madden and Anselm Granelli, to the then Northern Rhodesia.
Some months later they were joined by Brother Martin Barry and Brother Bartholomew Battigan. Later still Brother Anthony Malone and Brother Raymond Keane came over from the Irish Province for a short spell, then finally Brother Francis Stevens.
In addition to the operating theatre and X-Ray departments, the hospital now had departments specialising in psychiatry, geriatrics, neurology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, as well as an outpatients department.
Other amenities included a shop for patients and staff, a patients’ library, a café for visitors and a laundry.
Towards the end of the 1960s, the Archbishop of Lusaka asked the Brothers to help an organisation called Zambian Medical Aid to open a sixty-bed general hospital in Lusaka.
Brother Bernard was first on the scene advising on the design. He also had the task of buying all the equipment from the theatre operating table down to the last towel in the bathrooms. This involved him on trips to South Africa and Germany looking for the best and most suitable buys.
Approval was given from Rome for the establishment of a ward for women at Saint John of God Hospital, Scorton. It was stipulated that the ward was to be completely separate from the male wards and to be staffed entirely by women.
Two old cottages on the south side of the common approach road were demolished and replaced by modern flats.
Scorton was highly honoured when Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother visited Saint John of God Hospital on 29th May in order to lay the foundation stone of the £500,000 rehabilitation unit, which was named “The Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Wing”.
Permission was granted by the Father General and his Council to establish the Novitiate at Saint Cuthbert’s, Hurworth Place. Brothers would no longer have to go to Ireland for training.
Two old cottages on the south side of the common approach road were demolished and replaced by modern flats.
Permission was granted by the Father General and his Council to establish the Novitiate at Saint Cuthbert’s, Hurworth Place. Brothers would no longer have to go to Ireland for training.
These were named ‘Monksgarth’, later used as offices for the provincial administration. These offices were vacated in 1998, at which time the building was extensively altered and refurbished, and then used as accommodation for Brothers. Today they are part of SJOG’s Northern Supported Living Services and home to people with learning and physical disabilities.
The English Brothers open Holy Family Rehabilitation Centre, Monze – rehabilitation for children with physical disabilities.
The Order extended its services at Scorton when a unit for the elderly with psychiatric disorders opened at Saint John of God Hospital.
Saint John of God Pastoral Centre opens in Hemlington.
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Saint John of God Nursing Home opens on the top floor of Saint John of God Hospital, Scorton after a complete renovation and provides accommodation for 33 residents.
Some of the residents of Saint Cuthbert’s Hospital, after many years of institutional care, moved to Rockliffe Court.
The Order extended its services at Scorton when a unit for the elderly with psychiatric disorders opened at Saint John of God Hospital.
Saint John of God Nursing Home opens on the top floor of Saint John of God Hospital, Scorton after a complete renovation and provides accommodation for 33 residents.
Some of the residents of Saint Cuthbert’s Hospital, after many years of institutional care, moved to Rockliffe Court.
In 1980 Brothers Bernard and Joseph had withdrawn from Chainama Hills and returned to England. Brother Bernard, seventy at the time, had suffered a detached retina and also had glaucoma, a complaint that would gradually render him blind.
However the provincial asked these two Brothers if they would go back to Zambia, this time to Monze, a town in the Southern Province ‘to do something about vocations’.
On arrival, the Bishop of Monze asked if they would take on new work – a rehabilitation centre for children with physical disabilities.
The unit had provision for 14 beds and was operated in partnership with Northallerton Health District.
The unit was recognised as a centre of excellence for people with dementia.
A second unit opened in 1994.
This followed the invitation in 1986 by Bishop Augustine Harris of Middlesbrough who asked the Brothers to assume a ‘pastoral presence’ and undertake a work in the district of Hemlington within the Cathedral Parish of Saint Mary in the Diocese of Middlesbrough.
This new facility was officially opened on 26th January 1990 by the entertainer, former star of the Goon Show and popular presenter of a Sunday religious programme, Sir Harry Secombe.
A new operating theatre was also opened.
Built at the end of the hospital drive by the Hospitaller Housing Association, this provided residential and sheltered housing.
After the disbanding of the Housing Association the service was delivered by another provider, however in 2021 it came back under the auspices of SJOG.
The 1990s saw a huge change with the Order seeking new and innovative ways to support people in less institutionalised settings and supporting people to make their own decisions about their lifestyle for the first time.
New services open in North Yorkshire, County Durham and Tyneside to support people to live independently.
Dalby View in Coulby Newham opens and 150 residents of Barvin Park move out and into the community to live in small independent living accommodation and this marked a decade of significant development throughout the country.
Dalby View opens after a major fundraising appeal to provide purpose-built accommodation for young people with physical disabilities. Nursing homes open in Bradford; residential care homes in Durham and Tyneside and supported living services in Middlesex and Hertfordshire.
The Minims, a residential care opens in Hatfield and Beach Road in Tyneside.
Sandown Road in Billingham opens.
Digswell Horticultural Training Centre opens with the help of Lottery funding.
Enfield Resource Centre opens.
Lindisfarne Court in Darlington opens to provide a home for people moving from St Cuthbert’s Hospital in Hurworth and Balmaclellan opens in Catterick Village in North Yorkshire, and at Scorton on the site near to Saint John of God Hospital, houses open to provide supported living services for people with physical and learning disabilities - all celebrate their 30th anniversaries this year in 2022.
In Jarrow and South Shields, two new homes open for people with learning disabilities.
As part of the Order’s Leisure, Education and Occupational Services (LEOS), Digswell becomes a key project and provides real work experience.
The centre is open to the public and provides the councils plants and flowers for the town of Welwyn Garden City.
£125,000 from the National Lottery enables the infrastructure to be accessible and safe for people with disabilities.
The Brothers move into Scotland for the first time taking over the management of St. Mary’s Nursing Home in Barrhead and later develops a supported living service enabling people from the home to live independently.
Another first for the Order with the opening of Mike Mably House in Hatfield and a floating drug and alcohol service to support people with drug and alcohol issues with their tenancies.
Woodhall Community Centre opens – another new venture for the Order.
The Order establishes religious management services to support older religious manage their care homes.
The first foundation of the Order – Saint John of God Hospital in Scorton closes. The Brothers establish a separate charity to incorporate the charitable works of the Order: Saint John of God Hospitaller Services.
Olallo House in London opens and a 4-bed service in Bradford.
Another first for the Order with the opening of Mike Mably House in Hatfield and a floating drug and alcohol service to support people with drug and alcohol issues with their tenancies.
The Order establishes religious management services to support older religious manage their care homes.
Olallo House in London opens and a 4-bed service in Bradford.
The service was founded to respond to the issues facing many orders today, particularly in relation to the implications of new care standards legislation, and is underpinned with the commitment to work with each individual order or congregation to maintain the charism and founding ethos of that particular religious organisation.
Over 20 orders and congregations have received support to date.
Olallo House opens its doors to its first guest to meet the needs of street homeless men and women, migrants with no recourse to public funds and becomes SJOG’s flagship service in supporting one of the most vulnerable groups in society.
1 Bede’s Close in Bradford provides specialist support for people with disabilities and behaviours that challenge.
New services continue to open with Terry Yorath House in Leeds and Alcazar Court in Edmonton, North London.
Olallo House establishes a TB unit in partnership with Find&Treat and University College London Hospital – the county’s first TB care unit for rough sleepers.
Intensive Housing Management supports people to manage their tenancies and live independent lives in their own homes.
A rebrand and a rejuvenation of the charity.
Olallo House establishes a TB unit in partnership with Find&Treat and University College London Hospital – the county’s first TB care unit for rough sleepers.
Intensive Housing Management supports people to manage their tenancies and live independent lives in their own homes.
Modern Day Slavery Services are established with 20 safe-houses opening in under two years.
Rockliffe Court at Hurworth formerly Hospitaller Housing Association’s property back in the 1980s comes back into the SJOG family.
SJOG achieves NAS accreditation and The Old Vicarage in Stockton – a specialist service for people with autism opens in early summer.
Rockliffe Court at Hurworth formerly Hospitaller Housing Association’s property back in the 1980s comes back into the SJOG family.
SJOG achieves NAS accreditation and The Old Vicarage in Stockton – a specialist service for people with autism opens in early summer.