La Valette Preceptory & Priory No.649, 10:00 hours on Friday 4th October 2024.
and
Waller Rodwell Wright Preceptory & Priory No 640, Saturday 5th October 2024 at 5.00 pm
Firstly, we are grateful to the Provincial Prior RE Kt Peter Burrows for leading us on a very successful visit the Priory’s of La Valette Preceptory & Priory No.649 and the Waller Rodwell Wright Preceptory & Priory No 640 of the Order of Malta and the Knights Templar Preceptory in Valletta, Malta. This gave us a wonderful opportunity to get together and renew or make new acquaintances, socialize in the warm Mediterranean climate, explore the historical city, and visit two highly regarded Preceptories.
For those unfamiliar with Valletta, it is a fortified city and a World Heritage Site. Valletta was built by the Knights Hospitaller – The Knights of Malta – in a military style for the sole purpose of defence. Valletta is an ideal location for our visit because it is home to a wealth of Knightly artifacts and monuments i.e. forts, bastions, watchtowers, aqueducts, churches, cathedrals, palaces, and two museums.
We set off from Bristol airport for a wonderful trip. The Knights had an excellent time visiting some of the many museums and sights of Valletta.
As guests, we all attended the La Vallette Priory No 649 meeting, and were afforded the honour of our Knights taking part in the ceremony. For those who took part we know it is an experience they will never forget, taking part in a ceremony in Malta.
The La Valette Priory is dedicated to the heroic spirit of Jean Parisot de Valette. Jean Parisot de Valette was born in 1494 and died in Malta on 21st August 1568. He was born into a noble family in Quercy and joined the Order of the Knight of St. John in the Langue de Provence. He was noted for fighting with distinction against the Turks at Rhodes and, as the Grand Master of the Order of the Knights of St. John, he became the Order’s greatest hero and most illustrious leader. He dedicated his life to protecting the Island of Malta and is celebrated for his bravery in successfully commanding the resistance against the Ottomans at the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, which was widely regarded as one the greatest sieges of all time. He became the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller on 21st August 1557.