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The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter is a national charity in England with more than 5,200 members worldwide (including more than 900 AmFriends members of the American Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter Inc.) in partnership with St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and the royal chivalric knighthood Order of the Garter. The purpose of the charity is to "protect, preserve and enhance" St George's chapel.
People interested in the society and its traditions and service may join the society.
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An earlier group known as the Association of the Descendants of the Knights of the Garter was founded in the 1920s, composed of knights (KG) and ladies (LG) of the order, and their descendants. Another earlier group known as the Friends of St George's was founded in 1931 to support the religious College of St George at the castle by raising funds to "protect, preserve and enhance" the chapel as the physical and spiritual centre of the order. The two groups accomplished the society mission separately and merged in 1934 as The Society of the Friends of St George's with which is amalgamated the Association of the Descendants of the Knights of the Garter.
The society was founded with the mission to continue the support of the college and historic chapel. The society shares with the order its patron Saint George the Martyr, the motto "Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shame whomever thinks it evil)," and the insignia of the Garter.
The society was preceded in 1929 by a separate Philadelphia-based Society of Descendants of Knights of the Most Noble Order of the Garter now at Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, according to the Hereditary Society Blue Book and the Hereditary Society Community of the United States of America [1].
The patron of the society is the sovereign of the order, Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II (b. 1926 styled as "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of her other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, and Defender of the Faith").
The president of the society is the statutory knight companion of the order, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The vice presidents of the society are the members of the order.
The officers are assisted in their society duties by its management committee:
Ex Officio or Representative
- Lay Chair
- Honorary Treasurer
- Honorary Solicitor
- Honorary Editor
- Honorary Genealogist on Behalf of Garter Principal King of Arms
- Representative of the Chapter
- Representative of the Lay Clerks
- Representative of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
- Representative of the Royal Household
- Representative of the Minor Canons
- Representative of the Descendants of the Knights of the Garter
- Representative of the Provost and Fellows of Eton College
- Headmaster of St George's School
Elected Members
- Nine Elected Members
Co-opted Members
- Representative of the St George's School Association
- Clerk of the Chapter
In Attendance
- Canon Steward
- Canon Chaplain
- Canon of Windsor
- Minutes Secretary
All members of the society support its mission with their annual or life contributions. Every member receives the society:
- Publication of his or her name in the society leather-bound Book of Honour that is displayed permanently at the chapel,
- Entrance to the castle grounds and precincts, chapel and state apartments,
- Discount prices of limited-edition and official chapel and society merchandise including an annual commissioned Christmas card, and
- Invitation to attend daily chapel services, weekly afternoon chapel organ recitals in May and June, monthly evening chapel organ recitals throughout the year, the society Annual General Meeting and Festival in May, the society annual Friends' Stand spectator seating at the royal Garter Day procession and service in June, various society teas throughout the year, various society tours of selected cathedrals and stately homes throughout the year, and various chapel choir Evensong and other concerts throughout the year.
Every friend member is given a personalized written certificate of membership which bears an illumination of the patron saint and dragon which is also known as the George, and a badge which bears the heraldic shield of St George's Cross.
Descendant members have also proved descent from one or more of the current or former members of the order. Every descendant member is given a similar certificate and a badge [2] which instead bears the heraldic shield of the founder of the order, the Plantagenet King Edward III, surmounted by the imperial crown.
- Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter, The. 2005. Annual Report 2004/5. Tuch Design. Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom.
- Vickers, Hugo. 2004. Garter Day 2004. Delworth Ltd., Colnbrook, Slough, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom.
- Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter, The. 2004. Annual Report 2003/4. Tuch Design. Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom.
- Begent, Peter J. 2001. The Romance of St George's Chapel; Windsor Castle. Delworth Ltd., Colnbrook, Slough, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom.
- Various. 1831. The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 17, No. 488.
- CharitiesDirect.com: The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter [3]
- The Prince of Wales Charities: Patronages, The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter [4]
- The Princess Royal Charities: Patronages, The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter [5]
- St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle: The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter [6]
- UK Department for Constitutional Affairs THE ROYAL PECULIARS: Report of the Review Group set up by Her Majesty The Queen, Chapter 5: St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, London 2001 [7]