Royal Society of St George

In 1415 St. George became the Patron Saint of England after the English soldiers fighting under the command of King Henry V had beaten the French at the Battle of Agincourt. Ever since then, St George has been the patriotic rallying point for the English people.

The Royal Society of St. George was founded in 1894 with the noble object of promoting "Englishness" and the English way of life. Howard Ruff was the founder in 1894 and the first Honorary Secretary of the Royal Society of St. George. In 1900 he gave up farming to devote his time exclusively to the Society.[2]

The Society quickly attracted the support of many distinguished public figures in England and throughout the then British Empire. Its first Royal Patron was Queen Victoria; and the society has enjoyed the Patronage of every reigning monarch from that day to this.

In 1963 our present sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, bestowed a notable honour by granting the Society its own Royal Charter, a distinction of which its members are justifiably proud. The Society was further granted Arms in 1990.

Before the formation of The Royal Society of St. George, Societies of St. George had been founded in the then North American Colonies for the relief of British immigrants and to give them general assistance in the new country. The earliest Branches of which there are any records are those of New York (1770), Philadelphia (1772) and Charlestown (1773). Subsequently Branches were formed in all the great cities of the North American continent and celebrations were always held on St. George's Day. At the time of the War of Independence many Loyalists moved to Canada and founded similar Societies in Halifax (1786) and other cities.[3]

The Objects that are specified in the terms of its Royal Charter are:

• To foster the love of England and to strengthen England and the Commonwealth by spreading the knowledge of English history, traditions and ideals.
• To keep fresh the memory of those in all walks of life, who have served England or the Commonwealth in the past, to inspire leadership in the future.
• To combat all activities to undermine the strength of England or the Commonwealth.
• To further English interest everywhere to ensure that St. George's Day is properly celebrated and to provide focal points all the world over where English men and women may gather together.

The Royal Society has set out a number of culture and values statements - behaviours that the Council, Branches and Members are expected to demonstrate in everything we do in and for the Society.

• We are an inclusive Society, welcoming people from all walks of life, backgrounds, faiths and beliefs who support our aims and objectives, as set out in the Royal Charter and other governing documents.
• We are proud of our Patron, history, heritage, culture, traditions, flag and the Commonwealth, and will endeavour, in all our activities, to further and positively share this knowledge, to keep “Englishness” alive and special, particularly with younger members of society.
• Our Council members work diligently towards the development and sustainability of the Society, supporting the Chairman and officers, our branch network, delivering on all promises and commitments and attending, at a minimum, three Council Meetings each year.
• The Society will organise four main events each year (namely: the St. George’s Day Cenotaph Parade, a Battle of Britain Day lunch, an Annual Church service and an Annual General Meeting) which will be open to all members and their guests.
• The Society will strive to raise the profile and aims of the Society amongst the general public.
• Branches of the Society (both in England and overseas) shall organise local events and functions in line with the Society’s aims: focused on social, community and fund-raising activities, wherever possible reflecting the eclectic make-up of our ever-evolving society and culture.
• Society members will support our aims and objectives as valued members of their communities, committed to our values of tradition, honesty, integrity, community, tolerance, humour, fair play and a warmth of welcome.
• Wherever possibly, we will either individually, through our branches, or via the Charitable Trust, support worthy and relevant charitable causes that are in-line with our aim and objectives.

The Society has its own Charitable Trust - No. 263076 - which is run separately to the Society and is governed by a Board of Trustees.

The objectives of the charity are to:

• Help and encourage young people to greater achievement in England and the Commonwealth
• Encourage the enterprise, skills and enthusiasm of young people through support of appropriate organisations

The Society is fully inclusive and independent of party politics and membership is open to all those who subscribe to the Objects of the Society.

Our current membership is made up of a network of branches throughout England and the world, as well as a large number of direct Society members.

The list below includes some of the notable people who have served as either President or Vice-President of the Society:

• The Duke of Cambridge[4]
• The Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII then Duke of Windsor)
• Field Marshal The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
• The Duke of Devonshire
• Sir Winston Churchill KG, OM, CH, TD, PC, DL, FRS, RA
• Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster KG CB CVO OBE TD CD DL
• Peter Nelson, 9th Earl Nelson
• Charles Forte, Baron Forte Kt
• Field Marshal Edwin Bramall, Baron Bramall KG, GCB, OBE, MC, JP, DL

• St. George Society of Philadelphia
• The United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada

• Official website
• Saint George's Society New York (earliest branch)