Gallery of Supreme Knights

In 1919 the moment came for a new marshalling of Catholics in Britain and with it came the 'Man'. That man was Cork born Patrick Joseph (P.J.) O'Callaghan who was the founder of the Order of the Knights of St Columba. As its instigator and first Supreme Knight, he steered the Order to success beyond its wildest expectations. A successful publisher; who had also been prominently identified with Catholic life in Glasgow, prior to in Order's inception; he devoted all his time and energy to the work of the fledgling Order. When he died on the 11th March 1942, age 69, the Order had grown from twenty to in excess of 22,000 members in 320 Councils throughout the country.  (R.I.P.)

Edward Henry was a leading solicitor in his native city of Glasgow. He joined the original Council in its infancy early in 1920 and was almost immediately chosen as Deputy Supreme Knight. As the first Supreme Knight elected by a Supreme Council; he worked tirelessly for the cause of Catholic Education; supervised the development and expansion of the Order to over 210 Charter Councils with a total membership approaching 20,000; and the absorption of the Knights of St Andrew. Died 29th December 1941   (R.I.P.)

A convert to the Catholic Faith; William 'Bill' Bishop was initiated into the Knights with Westminster Council 66 in November 1923 and elected to the Board of Directors in 1925. He was considered to be a born leader of men; largely responsible for the rapid growth of the Order in the South of England. The first Supreme Knight to become a Papal Knight, when he was invested with a Knighthood of the Order of St Gregory the Great, in 1932. Bill died on the 17th October 1948.   (R.I.P.)

Thomas Davis was an early member of the Knights in his native Liverpool. As the first Grand Knight of Council 13, he was elected the Deputy Supreme Knight in 1922, but had to resign on medical grounds in 1926. In 1933 he was given the responsibility of guiding the Order, as its fourth Supreme Knight, through probably the most critical period of its history. An eloquent speaker; Tom traveled the country addressing meetings and firing all with his own enthusiasm. He died on 19th October 1940.  (R.I.P.)

Born in in 1880, in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary; "Willie" as he was known, was an early pioneer of the Knights of St Columba, joining Liverpool Western Council 9; the first Council erected in England, when the Order moved south in 1921. A barrister by profession and a stalwart of Province 2, he was elected as the Order's fifth Supreme Knight in 1936. 'WJ' held office as Supreme Knight until the first post-war Supreme Council in 1945, nine years in total, a record unlikely to be equaled. He died on 14th June 1968, aged 88.  (R.I.P.)

Sixth Supreme Knight, Tom Leyland joined the Order with Council 52, Preston, in 1924 and was Provincial Deputy of Lancaster by 1928. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1938 and served in various offices prior to his election to Supreme Knight at the Order's first post-war Supreme Council. Well known in the Lancashire Councils, Tom was a popular speaker and the Order's spokesman on social issues and adult education. He died in 8th October 1958  (R.I.P.)

Laurie Arnold was a founder member of Croyden Council 204, in 1928.   A solicitor by profession; he was Provincial Advocate of Southwark, an office he held until his election as Supreme Advocate in 1935. In 1945 he was elected D.S.K. and finally Supreme Knight in 1948. Well known in Catholic life; for his organisational skills on behalf of the Church; he was also the first Chairman of the KSC Club, which was established in London, in 1948. Laurie died on 14th May 1975  (R.I.P.)

Dan Kelly had the rare distinction of being continuously in 'office' from the day he joined the Order until his death; a period spanning almost thirty years. He entered as a foundation member of Council 46, Bury in March 1923 and assisted in the erection of many new Councils in the Manchester area. Dan was also responsible for the inauguration and development of the Squires, of which he was Controller-General. A Board member for twenty-five years, he was the first Supreme Knight to die in office on 24th October 1952.   (R.I.P.)

Tom became a member of the Knights with Council 66, prior to joining Council 178, then Council 261, Palmers Green. After holding Council and Provincial Chancellor's Office, he was elected to the Board in 1936. During his tenure as Supreme Knight, the Order experienced healthy growth, and Tom was instrumental in erecting the 500th Council of the Knights of St Columba at Cockfosters. He subsequently transferred to Council 500 and remained a member until he died on 26th March 1979.  (R.I.P.) 

Jim Mitton (M.B.E.) was initiated into Council 139, Bournemouth, shortly after its erection. An accountant by profession; he served as Provincial Grand Knight from 1929 and is credited with erecting eight new Councils during his term of office. He also established the Knights of St Columba on the Channel Islands prior to his election to the Board of Directors in 1933. After nineteen years as the Supreme Treasurer; then D.S.K, he was elected Supreme Knight in 1955. He died on  24th January 1966 at the age of 75.   (R.I.P.)

Francis, better known as Frank, joined the Order in 1925 with Council 66 and became a household name in the Westminster Province. He also became a foundation member of Patria Council 157, of which he was the first Grand Knight. Seen as a highly energetic and visionary member of the Order, he was elected to the Board of Directors at Supreme Council in 1933. He served 'in office' and on the Board of Directors for almost forty years. Died on 26th January 1977 (R.I.P.)

Stuart Harper joined Council 92, Derby as a founder member in 1924. During his seventeen years service as a member of the Board of Directors; much of which was served as Action Convener; he achieved notable success with the Catholic Contact Crusade, for which he was responsible. Following his election as the Order's Supreme Knight in 1961, he became the first Catholic to be elected as Mayor of Derby, since the Reformation. Stuart died on 2nd March 1969.  (R.I.P.)

William (Bill) Austin, a native of Liverpool was a charter member of the first Council in the South, Westminster Cl 66, prior to transferring to Cls 137, 144, 297 and subsequently 397. Bill held 'office' from 1925 until he retired from the Board of Directors in 1970. During his time as Supreme Knight the Order underwent a number of changes as part of the 'Knights in the Modern World' campaign. He also traveled some 28,000 miles on the business of the Knights. Bill died on 28th February 1978, aged 83.  (R.I.P.)

Phil Scott had a fairly meteoric rise to the position of chief officer of the Order. After only three years on the Board of Directors, he was elected Supreme Knight. Having been initially involved with the Squires since 1937; and subsequently Chief Squire, Phil joined Council 293, Birmingham in 1942. He was also part of the Select Committee looking into the re-organisation of the Order. Phil died on 4th May 1996 (R.I.P.)

Aldershot born Michael May possibly qualifies as the Order's 'best-dressed' Supreme Knight; he was a director of a bespoke retail company. Having become a Knight with Farnborough Council 185, in 1935; he served as Provincial Advocate and P.D.  Following six years service as a Board Member with responsibility for Action and Welfare, he was elected as Supreme Knight. On 15th Aug 1972, he became the second Supreme Knight to die whilst in office; leaving a wife and three dependant children.   (R.I.P.)

Martin who hailed from Durham was introduced to the Knights in 1950 with Grays Council 81, in Essex. Elected to the position of Deputy Supreme Knight in 1971; he was elevated to Supreme Knight in July 1972, almost by default, and after a very short apprenticeship; when the current incumbent died suddenly. Although a comparative novice in terms of Board experience, he was a popular and efficient Supreme Knight who served with distinction until 1975. Died 20th October 1998, at the age of 73.  (R.I.P.)

Chris joined the Knights with Council 11 in Leeds, progressing from the Squires. Born in Ceylon in 1918, he came to England at the age of 11 and ultimately became a civil servant with the GPO Telephone service. Chris always emphasised the spiritual aspects of the Order and was well known for his organisational ability. He was elected as Supreme Knight after 11 years service as a Board member. Died on 14th September 1988.   (R.I.P.)   

A Grimsby man, born and bred, Tony was a member of Grimsby then Scunthorpe KSC Councils. He was a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre (KHS) and in 2006 Tony received the high accolade of Knight Commander with Star (Con Placca) of the Order of St Gregory from Pope Benedict in recognition of his work with the Knights. He was a founder member and first President of IACK (International Alliance of Catholic Knights) and also Mayor of Grimsby in the 1980s. Died on 14th January 2008.   (R.I.P.)

Tony joined the Knights at Wolverhampton in 1960 before transferring to Darlaston in 1961 where he remained faithful to them until his death. During this time he served as Grand Knight, Provincial Grand Knight and was elected to the Board of Directors in 1982 progressing up the ladder to Supreme Knight. After after completing his term as Supreme Knight he studied for the Diaconate and was ordained in 1997. Tony was instrumental in the inaugurating the Order's Fraternal Cross. He was also a Past President of I.A.C.K. Died on the 9th July 2008 (R.I.P.)

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