{{Short description|Newspaper}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = The Orange Standard | motto = "Civil and religious liberty for all: special privileges for none" | type = Monthly newspaper | format = Digital (PDF) and Print | owners = Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland | publisher = Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland | president = Tom Haire | founded = January 1973 | language = English | headquarters = Schomberg House, Belfast, Northern Ireland | circulation = Digital edition: 6,500 subscribers | website = {{URL|goli.org.uk/orangestandard}} }}
'''''The Orange Standard''''' is the official monthly newspaper of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orange Standard {{!}} Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland |url=https://www.goli.org.uk/orangestandard |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=Orange Order |language=en}}</ref> The Orange Order newspaper was established in January 1973.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orange Standard Archives {{!}} Museum of Orange Heritage |url=https://www.orangeheritage.co.uk/orangestandardarchives |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=Museum |language=en}}</ref> It is available in digital PDF format and in print.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-02 |title=Lodge Life: Orange newspaper embraces digital era |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/lodge-life-orange-newspaper-embraces-digital-era-1156856 |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=Belfast News Letter |language=en}}</ref> It serves the fraternity and community of the Orange Order and Ulster unionists. It covers locally in Northern Ireland, but also world-wide, including the rest of the British Isles, the Orange Order in Africa, Canada, United States and Oceania.
The primary focuses are on lodge news, key dates and locations of Orange marches, Orangeism around the world, politics, historical and religious features and leisure and the community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-31 |title=Lodge Life: Order launches new-look Orange Standard newspaper |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/lodge-life-order-launches-new-look-orange-standard-newspaper-550123 |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=Belfast News Letter |language=en}}</ref> There is also a youth section for younger readers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Our Views |url=https://www.grandorange.org.uk/press/index.html |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=www.grandorange.org.uk}}</ref>
The headquarters' is located at Schomberg House, Belfast, Northern Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Grand Orange Lodge |url=https://www.grandorange.org.uk/press/Orange-Standard/index.html |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=www.grandorange.org.uk}}</ref> This is also the location of the Museum of Orange Heritage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Museum {{!}} Museum of Orange Heritage {{!}} Belfast |url=https://www.orangeheritage.co.uk/ |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=Museum |language=en}}</ref>
== Timeline == In 1971, the Grand Orange Lodge formed a press committee due to ongoing "one-sided propaganda" from republican circles in the early years of The Troubles. They wanted a dedicated voice to for a unionist and Protestant prospective, as well as promoting the principles of the Reformation. In June 1972 they agreed to have an official Orange publication.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Orange Standard {{!}} Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland |url=https://www.goli.org.uk/orangestandard |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=Orange Order - History of the paper |language=en}}</ref>
In January 1973, The Orange Standard launched its inaugural edition. The key figures of the production and the formation included Rev Canon Dr Samuel Ernest Long and Dougie Sloan, who was an experienced County Armagh newspaper editor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-11 |title=Canon Ernie Long, '˜legendary' Orange Order chaplain, dies aged 102 |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/canon-ernie-long-legendary-orange-order-chaplain-dies-aged-102-1250311 |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=Belfast News Letter |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McCreary |first=Alf |date=13 Apr 2016 |title=Canon Ernest Long: Leading figure in both Church of Ireland and the Orange Order |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/canon-ernest-long-leading-figure-in-both-church-of-ireland-and-the-orange-order/a/116226433.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-01-22 |title=Mr. Douglas Sloan |url=https://www.impartialreporter.com/news/13849604.mr-douglas-sloan/ |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=Impartial Reporter |language=en}}</ref>
In 2017, the Orange Institution began releasing the newspaper as a digital version.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 Feb 2017 |title=Orange Order newspaper goes online |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/orange-order-newspaper-goes-online/a/116853153.html |url-status=live|work=Belfast Telegraph}}</ref>
In 2019, the Grand Lodge of Ireland released a new look for prints and digital versions of the newspaper.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 Jan 2019 |title=Orange Order launches new-look newspaper in Belfast |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/orange-order-launches-new-look-newspaper-in-belfast/a/116144727.html |url-status=live |work=Belfast Telegraph}}</ref>
In 2023, the Grand Lodge of Ireland digitized its early editions of the newspaper to mark the 50th anniversary of ''The Orange Standard''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hewitt |first=Ralph |date=27 Sep 2023 |title=Orange Order digitises early editions of official newspaper to mark 50th anniversary |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/orange-order-digitises-early-editions-of-official-newspaper-to-mark-50th-anniversary/a/113394904.html |url-status=live |work=Belfast Telegraph}}</ref>
''The Orange Standard'' gives politicians the opportunity to reach out to the unionist communities. In March 2026, Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows spoke about the importance of unionism for the future.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ballymena |first=Love |date=2026-03-04 |title=Jon Burrows urges “Unionism for the Future” in Orange Standard address |url=https://www.loveballymena.online/post/jon-burrows-urges-unionism-for-the-future-in-orange-standard-address |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=Love Ballymena |language=en}}</ref>
== References == <references />
Category:Newspapers published in Northern Ireland Category:Mass media in County Antrim Category:1973 establishments in Northern Ireland Category:Publications established in 1973 Category:Newspapers established in 1973 Category:Orange Order Category:Protestantism in the United Kingdom