Friends and Companions of the College of St George

The Friends, Companions and Descendants, of the College of St George is a constituent group of the Foundation of the College of St George, Windsor Castle which is a national charity in England. The Friends, Companions and Descendants of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, includes 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.) to "protect, preserve and enhance" the religious college, its St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and the royal chivalric knighthood Order of the Garter.

People interested in the Friends, Companions and Descendants and its traditions and service may join as its members.

History

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 college by raising funds to "protect, preserve and enhance" the chapel as the physical and spiritual center of the order. The two groups accomplished their missions 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 shared with the order its patron Saint George the Martyr, the motto "Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shame whoever 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 [http://www.hereditary.us/] .

The society became a constituent group of the foundation in 2006 after celebrating its 75th anniversary, and completed its corporate governance and name change in 2007.

Officers

The foundation enjoys the service of its patron the sovereign of the order, Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II (b. 1926) and that of its president the statutory knight companion of the order, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The foundation vice presidents are the members of the order. The foundation patron and officers are assisted in their duties by its Board of Trustees.

The Friends, Companions and Descendants members join in nominating a trustee, and are assisted in its duties by its Consultative committee.

Membership

All members of the Friends, Companions and Descendants support its mission with their annual or life contributions. Every member receives the group:

*"Annual Report",

*Publication of his or her name in the group 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 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 group Annual General Meeting and Festival in May, the group annual Friends' Stand spectator seating at the royal Garter Day procession and service in June, various group teas throughout the year, various group tours of selected cathedrals and stately homes throughout the year, and various chapel choir Evensong and other concerts throughout the year.

Friend members

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 heraldic badge which bears the heraldic shield of St George's Cross.

Descendant members

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 heraldic badge [http://www.hereditary.us/decorations.htm] which instead bears the heraldic shield of the founder of the order, the Plantagenet King Edward III (d. 1377), surmounted by the imperial crown.

ee also

*List of Knights and Ladies of the Garter
*List of Ladies of the Garter
*Order of the Garter
*St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle
*Windsor Castle

References

*Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter, The. 2006. "Result of the Vote on the Resolution of the Members of the Society at the Annual General Meeting in St George's Chapel on Saturday 6 May 2006." Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England.

*Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter, The. 2006. "Annual General Meeting in St George's Chapel on Saturday 6 May 2006 at 2:00 pm." Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England.

*Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter, The. 2005. "Annual Report 2005/6". Tuch Design. Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England.

*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.

*Vickers, Hugo. 2004. "Garter Day 2004". Delworth Ltd., Colnbrook, Slough, Berkshire, England.

*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.

*Begent, Peter J. 2001. "The Romance of St George's Chapel; Windsor Castle". Delworth Ltd., Colnbrook, Slough, Berkshire, England.

*Various. 1831. "The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction", Vol. 17, No. 488.

External links

*Charity Commission website entry [http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/showcharity.asp?chyno=248904]

*CharitiesDirect.com: The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter [http://www.charitiesdirect.com/CharityDetail.asp?orgid=5130]

*The Prince of Wales Charities: Patronages, The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter [http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/trusts/patronages.html]

*The Princess Royal Charities: Patronages, The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter [http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page3518.asp]

*St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle: The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter [http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/friends/fri_index.asp]

*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 [http://www.dca.gov.uk/majrep/part6.htm]