The Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon

Warranted 20th October 2007 - Consecrated 20th October 2007.

The Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon is one of the more historically fascinating and lesser-known orders within English Freemasonry, taking its name from the medieval Hospital of St. Thomas of Acre in the City of London. The original medieval order was founded in the late 12th century in the Holy Land, established by English crusaders at Acre (in modern-day Israel) in memory of St. Thomas Becket, the martyred Archbishop of Canterbury. The Masonic order commemorates this heritage and is closely tied to the City of London, its spiritual home remains the church of St. Thomas in Cheapside, where the original medieval hospital once stood, giving it a tangible and rather remarkable historical connection that few Masonic orders can claim.

In terms of its Masonic position, the order is a side degree open to Royal Arch Companions, and its local bodies are known as Chapels. The ceremony draws on the history and legacy of the original medieval order, with themes of Christian devotion, commemoration, and the chivalric spirit of the crusading era. It is considered a relatively select and intimate order, without the widespread presence of some of the larger Masonic bodies, which tends to give its Chapels a particularly close-knit and convivial atmosphere. For Masons with an interest in medieval English history, Christian heritage, or the chivalric side degrees, the Order of St. Thomas of Acon offers a uniquely grounded and historically resonant experience that sets it apart from almost anything else the Masonic world has to offer.