Order of St Thomas of Canterbury

The Order of St Thomas of Canterbury is another institution that did not begin its

existence as a Military Order. It was founded as a religious house of regular canons

around the time of the Third Crusade (1189–92) and, perhaps not surprisingly,

Richard I has been said to be its founder.

Ralph de Diceto (the dean of St Paul’s) wrote that its first prior was William, his former chaplain. The new foundation received the support of the family of St Thomas Becket. The Order adopted the Rule of St Augustine and evolved into a Military Order towards the end of the third decade of the thirteenth century. When the Order of St Thomas became a Military Order under Bishop Peter, he chose to adopt the Rule of the Teutonic Knights.

Papal approval and support came in 1236 from Gregory IX, and in 1256–57 from Alexander IV.

Edward I of England became a patron of the Order in the late thirteenth century.

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