Some historic documents from our archives are reproduced on this page.

Up to 1929

>>1898 Monseigneur Vilatte: Fondateur de l’Eglise Vielle-Catholique aux Etats-Unis d’Amérique by Jean Parisot OSB (in French: edition by Mgr. Philippe de Coster)

>>1899 Statutes of the Order of the Lion and the Black Cross

>>1900 Statutes of the Order of the Crown of Thorns (in French)

>>1902 Mgr. Houssaye, Grand Chancellor of the Order of the Crown of Thorns, writes concerning the Order and Prince-Abbot Joseph III’s ministry in Canada.

>>1922 Ordre Chevaleresque et Religieux de la Couronne d’Epines (The Knightly and Religious Order of the Crown of Thorns): History and Regulations

>>25 March 1923 Notarized statement of Prince-Abbot Joseph III naming Francis John Barwell-Walker as his successor in the Order of the Crown of Thorns and related entities.

>>1 June 1923 Consecration certificate of Francis John Edmond Barwell-Walker by Prince-Abbot Joseph III

>>19 June 1925 Letter of Prince-Abbot Joseph III to Mgr. Barwell-Walker, then Grand Chancellor-General of the Order of the Crown of Thorns
– page 1 – page 2 – page 3

>>7 June 1928 Envelope of letter of Prince-Abbot Joseph III to Mgr. Barwell-Walker (with annotation by Prince-Abbot Edmond II)

>>Easter card from Prince-Abbot Joseph III to Mgr. Barwell-Walker, 1929

>>Death certificate of Prince-Abbot Joseph III. The certificate notes his archiepiscopal status.

1929-62: Prince-Abbot Edmond I

>>Letter of M. Georges Panchaud, June 1930

>>Circular letter of Edmond I (undated – 1930s)

>>1934-35 Statutes of the Order of the Lion and the Black Cross

>>Extracts from the Regulations of the Order of the Crown of Thorns now in force, 1938

>>1938 document on letterhead from Edmond I

>>Letters Patent of Edmond I conferring the title of Count upon Giuseppe Ballotta, August 1953. The recipient was President of the Associazione Internazionale Insigniti Ordine Cavallereschi in Palermo.

>>History of the Abbey-Principality, 1954

>>Statuts de l’Ordre souverain, chevaleresque, nobilaire et religieux de la Couronne d’Epines, 1957

>>The Chapel of Archbishop van Ryswyck at Eldon Lodge, Kensington, where the San Luigi Orders in England were based until 1960.

>>Ordination to the priesthood of Prince-Abbot Edmond II by Prince-Abbot Edmond I, 1960

>>Spiritual Giants in the Church’s Brilliant Past: Saint Louis, King of France, by Mgr. Tull (St Louis’ Day, 1960)

>>Consecration to the episcopate and appointment as Archbishop of San Luigi of Prince-Abbot Edmond II by Prince-Abbot Edmond I assisted by Archbishop Fairfield, 1961

>>The San Luigi Orders, 1961

>>Text for the March Song “The Knights of the Crown of Thorns” by Chev. Frederick Bowman, 1961 (This has since been adopted as the Anthem of the Abbey-Principality)

1962-98: Prince-Abbot Edmond II

>>Resignation of Prince-Abbot Edmond I in favour of Prince-Abbot Edmond II, 1962

>>Consecration to the episcopate and appointment as Archbishop of San Luigi of Prince-Abbot Edmond II by Archbishop Robert Schuyler Zeiger et al, 1963

>>“A group of Knights and Dames toast Sir Alvin [Germeshausen], former Director of Industrial Relations for the State of California, as the Grand Master [Edmond II] and the Vice Chancellor [Archbishop Frederick C. King] stand to each side of his chair.” [undated]

>>History of the Crown of St Louis by Mgr. Tull [undated]

>>Les Chroniques de Chevaliers (Newsletter of the English Grand Priory) 1961-70 (when it ceased production)

>>A Symposium in Honour of the Crown of Thorns, 1962

>>Letters Patent conferring the title of Marquis de Valjevo and recognition of status as Prince de San Luigi in respect of Edmond II, by King Peter II of Yugoslavia, March 1962

>>Memorial of Prince-Abbot Edmond I, April 1963

>>Declaration of Edmond II, May 1963

>>Gift of a relic of St Louis to the OCT, 1969

>>Brevet of Edmond II appointing Mgr. Tull to the Supreme Council, January 1970

>>Brevet of Edmond II creating Mgr. Tull a Monsignor and Mitred Abbot in the OCT, June 1970

>>700th Anniversary of the death of St Louis commemorated by the English Grand Priory, August 1970 – and an invitation to this event

>>Memorial of King Peter II of Yugoslavia, November 1970

>>Ceremony of the San Luigi Orders in Hollywood, 15 August 1971

>>Memorial of King Frederik IX of Denmark, GCCT, January 1972

>>Tenth Anniversary of the Accession of Edmond II, February 1972

>>Investiture of the San Luigi Orders at Hollywood, 3 July 1976

>>Investiture of the San Luigi Orders at Los Angeles, 28 January 1977

>>A Brief History of the San Luigi Orders by Archbishop Paul Schultz, OCT, 1977

>>Letter of Mgr. Tull to members of the Grand Priory of England and Wales, 1980

>>Appointment to Supreme Council by Mgr. Tull, 1999

Necrology – The Revd. Gaston Fercken, OCT

The following documents concern the Revd. Gaston Fercken, who during his time as an Episcopalian minister became the first Grand Master of the Order of the Crown of Thorns. They date principally from his later career which was spent as a missionary with the Church of the Brethren and the Swedenborgians.

>>Biography by Archbishop Francis Spataro

>>Elder G.J. Fercken

>>Missions in the Church of the Brethren

>>Brethren Encyclopedia entry

>>New Church Life article

>>‘The Island of Mauritius’ by G.J. Fercken