The Grand Priory of Blessed Adrian Fortescue of the Order of Malta Trust

The Grand Priory of Blessed Adrian Fortescue of the Order of Malta Trust is a United Kingdom registered charity (charity number 1166645) associated with the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, commonly known as the Order of Malta. The Trust serves as the charitable and spiritual arm of the Grand Priory of England, encompassing the island of Great Britain and parts of the United Kingdom excluding Northern Ireland.

History and Background

The Sub-Priory of Blessed Adrian Fortescue was originally founded in 1972 under the leadership of Lord Robert Crichton-Stuart as Regent. The Grand Priory of England itself was restored in 1993 after nearly 450 years of abeyance, aside from the existence of titular Grand Priors. The patron of the Grand Priory is Blessed Adrian Fortescue, a member of the Order martyred during religious persecutions, whose feast is commemorated annually by the Order.

Notable leaders of the Priory include a lineage of Regents and Grand Priors such as Andrew Bertie, who served as the Order’s Grand Master from 1988 to 2008, Frà Matthew Festing (Grand Master 2008–2017), and subsequent Grand Priors Fra’ Fredrik Crichton-Stuart, Ian Scott, and currently Fra’ Max Rumney, the 58th Grand Prior of England appointed in 2022.

Mission and Activities

The Grand Priory works closely with the British Association of the Order of Malta. While the British Association leads the hospitaller and charitable works, the Grand Priory is primarily responsible for the spiritual mission of the Order in Britain. This includes:

• Conducting religious activities and pilgrimages
• Providing spiritual formation for its members
• Promoting the Order's charism, expressed in the Latin phrase tuitio fidei et obsequium pauperum — bearing witness to the faith and serving the poor

The Priory currently comprises a membership that includes seven Knights of Justice and thirty-eight Knights and Dames in Obedience. Governance is exercised by the Chapter under the leadership of the Grand Prior.

Organizational Structure

The Trust functions under the governance structure of the Order of Malta in England and acts as a charitable foundation to support the Priory’s religious and spiritual objectives. Its legal status extends to a company registered in England (company number 09681330), reinforcing its formal operation within UK charity and company law frameworks.

This integration of spiritual leadership with charitable endeavors positions the Grand Priory of Blessed Adrian Fortescue of the Order of Malta Trust as a significant religious and philanthropic institution within the UK Catholic community and the broader mission of the Order of Malta.[2][3][4][5][1]

[1] https://www.orderofmalta.co.uk/blog/blessed-adrian-fortescue [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5075207 [3] https://www.orderofmalta.org.uk/spirituality/the-grand-priory-of-england/ [4] https://www.orderofmalta.co.uk [5] https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/09681330