Meeting Place
Stroud Masonic Hall
The Hill
Stroud
GL5 4EP
Meeting on:
1st Friday in February and September
The Preceptory was Consecrated in 1998 and is known as the Bodyguard Preceptory, as only those who have served as members of the Provincial Prior’s Bodyguard may join. There are 32 subscribing members, plus 6 Honorary members. The Preceptory meets twice a year at Stroud Masonic Hall, on the fourth Friday in February and the second Friday in September. Visitors are always welcome.
The Preceptory is named in honour of the Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette, who was born in Toulouse in 1494. At the age of 21 he became a Knight Hospitaler and after many adventures he was made Grand Master of Knights Templar.
Jean Parisot is most famous for successfully defending the island of Malta from the Turkish invasion in 1565. Emperor Suleiman laid siege to the Templars there utilising 40,000 troops, while the Grand Master led a defending force of 5,540 Templars and other soldiers. During the siege Jean Parisot was wounded whilst leading a troop against the Invaders, but instead of retiring from the battlefield to receive treatment, he rallied all who were able to stand and fought off Suleiman’s army, eventually raising the siege on 8″ September 1565. As evidence of the fierceness of the battle, following the retreat of the Turks there were only 600 defenders remaining.
Jean Parisot de la Valette continued to lead the Order in peacetime, making it a well-respected organisation which among other achievements managed the finances of many nations. He spent the remainder of his days in rebuilding the island of Malta and settling petty disputes amongst the Templars. He died in July 1568 of a stroke, and was buried in St. John’s Church in Valletta, the town named after him.
