Temple

The Church is open to the public, but opening times vary. Usual opening times are from 1pm to 4pm. Entry is FREE.

020 7353 8559

In England there are four ancient societies of lawyers, named the Inns of Court. Two of these four societies are the Inner and Middle Temple. The Temple Church in London, is the Church which serves these two societies, providing a place of worship for their members and staff. However, the church also welcomes any visitors to London through its doors – and with it’s fine music, stunning architecture and rich history, it is well worth taking them up on the offer.

Visit the other Inns of Court

The Church is split into two parts – the Round church, and the Chancel. It takes its name from the order known as the Knight’s Templar. These were soldier monks, who in the 12th century had the task of protecting pilgrims who were on their way to the Holy Land in Jerusalem. The London Temple was their headquarters in Britain. The Round church is characteristic of the Templar churches, who always built them as circular buildings, to remind them of the Church of the Holy Selpuchre in Jerusalem. This is a round, domed building raised over the site where Jesus was buried before he rose again after three days. They replicated this building everywhere they erected churches with the intention that those serving in it would be reminded everywhere they looked of Christ’s death – and the freedom from death that he won for his people. The Round chuch here was built in 1185.

A Seal of the Knights Templar, with their famous image of two knights on a single horse, a symbol of their early poverty.

Temple Round Church

Temple Church Door

The Chancel was then consecrated in the 13th century, and it was not long after that the Knight’s Templar was abolished by the Pope, encountering its downfall. King Edward II then took control of the church, and he gave it to the monastic Order of St John. At that time, lawyers in London were looking for a base in the city, to enable them to attend royal courts at Westminster. The Temple was rented to two colleges of these lawyers, and it became their shared chapel. These colleges later came to be the Inner and Middle Temples, which the Church still serves today.

Inside the round church during the early 19th century

Now the Temple Church is famous for its choir and architecture. The choir is one of the most finely honed in England. It is also passionate about the performance of new music, singing works from new composers to great acclaim. The building, particularly the Round church, has incredible acoustics for singing. Notice in the architecture also, the East Window. It was a gift from the Glazier’s Company in 1954, to replace the window there that had been destroyed in the Second World War. It depicts Jesus and his connections with the Temple in Jerusalem, and is one of the best examples of stained glass in London.

Inside the church today

The Church Altar

The church contains marble effergies of medieval knights

The Effergy of Geoffrey Manderville, who died in 1144

Part of the East Window, a gift to replace the one destroyed during WW2.

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