Industrial Revolution
In the 19th century, around 400 years after Henry VIII had ended the medieval Priory, there were moves to revive the
Order of St. John in England. Revival required the consent of the Pope, but as Anglicans as well as Catholics were involved,
it was not given. Despite this a determined group set up the British Order of St. John to care for the sick in the Hospitaller
tradition and the suffering of workers was one of their main concerns.
Britain was the first country to industrialise and in the 19th century there were many dangerous workplaces. Conditions
and machinery were hazardous and workers were exhausted by the long hours. Accidents were frequent but victims rarely
saw a doctor in time and death or disability from untreated injuries were commonplace. Members of the British Order
wanted to find a way to help. They decided to train ordinary people in First Aid so accident victims could be treated
quickly on the spot. In 1877 they set up St. John Ambulance to provide this emergency medical care in an organised way.
The idea of giving people the skills to help each other proved immensely popular. Classes were set up across the
country, particularly in workplaces and areas of heavy industry, but also in villages, seaside towns and middle class suburbs.
Before long new roles for St. John sprang from the success of the classes. In 1887 trained volunteers were organised
into a uniformed Brigade to provide a First Aid and ambulance service at public events. This was the start of the black and
white uniform still familiar at football matches, but there was much more than this. In many parts of Britain,
St. John was the first and only provider of an ambulance service right up to the middle of the 20th century. Also,
before the National Health Service, when there were far fewer doctors and hospital beds than today, St. John nurses looked
after the sick and injured in their own homes.
Now you only have to go to other parts of this website to see that St. John Ambulance is still thriving.
