A Grand Priory shall normally comprise a minimum of three (3) Priories, under the jurisdiction of a Grand Prior, and may also have within it Commanderies, which are not part of any Priory.
A Priory shall normally comprise not less than ten (10) Members, under the jurisdiction of a Prior.
A Commandery shall normally comprise of not less than five (5) Members, under the jurisdiction of a Commander, and whenever possible a Grand Priory shall have a Prelate and a Priory or Commandery a Chaplain.
A Grand Prior shall be appointed by the Grand Chancellor, with the consent of the Prince Grand Master, for each Grand Priory, from among the Full Members, after consultation with the Supreme Council.
Upon appointment, the Grand Prior shall swear, as laid down in the By-Laws & Regulations, Article 1 The Oath of Office.
Provide to the Grand Chancellor with a duly signed Declaration of Allegiance, as laid down in the By-Laws & Regulations.
The Declaration of Allegiance to the Order by the Grand Priory: on behalf of his Grand Priory, duly signed by himself and all other Members of the Council of that Grand Priory, to the effect that they and their Grand Priory will always strictly observe these Statutes, the By-Laws & Regulations and the Local Rules of that Grand Priory provided that the local Rules are not in conflict with the “Orders” Statutes, By-Laws & Regulations.
Appoint, with the consent of the Grand Chancellor, a Deputy or Sub Grand Prior, who shall serve at his pleasure; and enjoy the Style “His or Her Excellency”.
The Grand Prior shall administer his Grand Priory, together with the Grand Priory Council, of which he shall, ex officio, be the President.
The Grand Priory Council
The Grand Priory Council shall consist of:
- the President of that Council (the Grand Prior);
- the Deputy Grand Prior;
- the Priors of all Priories within that Grand Priory;
- the Commanders of any Commanderies within that Grand Priory;
- such of the Officers of the Grand Priory, as the Grand Priory Council shall from time to time determine;
- such other Full Members of the Grand Priory as the Grand Priory Council may from time to time deem appropriate, except that the Grand Priory Council shall not exceed thirteen (13) in number.
Each Member of the Grand Priory Council shall, upon appointment, co-sign the Declaration of Allegiance mentioned in paragraph 29.1(b) and send the signed original thereof to the Grand Chancellor, who shall always be advised of any proposed changes in the Council within seven (7) working days.
Meetings of the Grand Priory Council shall be convened and conducted in accordance with the Rules of the Grand Priory.
The Grand Chancellor shall receive an English translation of any document he shall so request, without charge to him or the Grand Chancery.
The Officers of the Grand Priory
In addition to the Grand Prior and Deputy Grand Prior, the Grand Prior may appoint, in consultation with the Grand Priory Council, other Officers of the Grand Priory, from amongst the Members, who may be a Chancellor or Secretary, who shall have charge over the Secretariat and other office matters and can consist of:
- an Almoner or Treasurer, who shall have charge over financial matters;
- a Marshall, who shall have charge over all Ceremonial, Investitures, Protocol and all matters relative to the Insignia and the Dress Regulations, all to be in line with those of the Order;
- an Hospitaller, who shall have charge over the Hospitallery Service;
- a Prelate (normally one Prelate from each principal Christian Denomination), who shall be responsible for the Religious Ordinances;
- an Attorney, who shall advise on legal matters relating to the Grand Priory, including the interpretation of the Rules of the Grand Priory;
- and such other Officers (if any) as the Grand Prior, in consultation with the Grand Priory Council, may deem to be appropriate.
Each such Officer shall, upon appointment, co-sign the Declaration of Allegiance mentioned in paragraph 29.1 sub-paragraph (b) and send the signed original thereof to the Grand Chancellor, and shall serve until the Grand Prior, in consultation with the Grand Priory Council, suspends or dismisses him, or he dies or resigns.
Records of the Grand Priories
The Grand Priory, together with the Grand Priory Council and Officers of the Grand Priory, shall at all times maintain proper records of all their acts and transactions, including those of any Priory or Commandery within that Grand Priory, and shall be responsible for timely preparing true and accurate annual accounts in respect of all monies received and disbursed by that Grand Priory and any Entity within it.
All Grand Priories shall:
- keep up-to-date confidential records of their Membership;
- regularly and in any event not less than once every two years inform the Grand Chancellor in writing of any changes, so that he may cause there to be maintained a record of all Members, which shall be open for inspection by the Supreme Council or any Grand Prior.
If possible those records and the information about them shall be electronic and passed electronically, but nothing shall prevent the Grand Chancellor requiring or holding them in some other form, at his absolute discretion.
Each Grand Priory shall annually submit its accounts to the Treasurer General within three (3) months after the end of its financial year.
The Grand Chancellor may, without prejudice to the foregoing, at any time require from any Grand Priory and its Officers copies of any records or accounts or that its Officers give him any details he may feel appropriate about the activities, or lack of them, of any Grand Priory, its Officers or Members.