The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, commonly known as the Order of St John, is one of five mutually recognized orders of St John. Revived in the United Kingdom in the mid 19th century, the Order of St John is able to trace its origins back over 900 years to the Knights Hospitaller.

Since those early days, the Order of St John has grown into an international non-profit, non-denominational organizations comprising over 30 000 members worldwide and operating in almost 40 countries including South Africa, the United Kingdom, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

In South Africa, the Order of St John is represented by the following foundations:

• St John Ambulance Foundation
• St John Ophthalmic Foundation
• St John Training & Education Foundation