The gate of heaven (1162)
Re-presenting the Holy Sepulchre (1162)
Built for a king’s burial (1240)
Singing to God’s glory
The Temple in our time
Welcome to the prayerful and beautiful Temple Church, steeped in the history of Christendom, this country and the whole Common Law World. 1162: the Round Church was built to be London’s Jerusalem. 1214–19: Magna Carta was negotiated in the Temple, and its greatest hero was buried in the Church. 1584, 1776, 1787: from Raleigh’s expeditions through the colonial constitutions to the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution, the Temple was the birthplace of American Law. And to this day the Church serves the legal colleges Inner and Middle Temple, London’s residents, visiting jurists and travellers from all over the world with some of the most uplifting services, music and discussions in London.
How can so ancient a building be equipped to serve the modern age? Through Restoration & Renewal: Equipping the Temple Church for the next 100 Years, a major programme of refurbishment and repair, energised and supported by The Friends of the Temple Church. This will fortify our prayer and praise, our wonderful music and our engagement with the socio-legal challenges facing Britain and the wider world.
Robin Griffith-Jones Master of the Temple
Mark Hatcher Reader of the Temple
Sunday 21 April
The Church is usually open Mon–Fri, 10.00am–4.00pm
For up-to-date sightseeing hours, see what's on in summary below or click here.
Admission for Sightseeing
£5.00 | £3.00 | Free to children, the Inns’ members, Inns and Chambers staff, and their guests.
For more information click here
All Forthcoming Choral Services
Next Choral Service: Choral Mattins Sunday 21 April, 11.15am
TueApr23 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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WedApr24 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Talk: The story of the Temple Church from the Knights Templar to the present day Copy
Free as part of the entrance fee. Choral Evensong sung by the Bar Choral Society
Canticles: (Wood in D) |
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ThuApr25 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Compline
Sung by the Temple Singers
Introit: Libera nos, salve nos (Sheppard) |
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FriApr26 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Talk: From the Templars to The Da Vinci Code: 850 years of the Temple Church Copy Copy
The History of the Temple Church, 850 extraordinary years: from the design of the Round Church (1163), perhaps the first Gothic building built in England, to match the round Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem; through the tumultuous years of Magna Carta (1214-1215), whose hero William Marshal was buried in the Round, where his effigy still lies; the building of the Chancel (1240), a glorious hall-church planned as the burial-place of Henry III and his Queen; the 17th and 18th century roles of the Church and Temple in the development of our modern rule of law and in the foundation, independence and constitution of America; to the Blitz (1941) and the post-War repair of the Church. Robin is glad to answer questions about The Da Vinci Code too! |
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SatApr27 | ||
SunApr28 |
Choral Communion
Sung by the Temple Church Choir
Organ prelude: Fantasia (Stanford) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel |
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MonApr29 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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TueApr30 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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WedMay01 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Talk: The story of the Temple Church from the Knights Templar to the present day Copy Copy
Free as part of the entrance fee. Choral Evensong
Suny by the Temple Singers
Organ prelude: Rhapsody in D flat (Howells) |
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ThuMay02 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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FriMay03 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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SatMay04 |
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SunMay05 |
Choral Mattins
Sung by the Temple Church Choir
Organ prelude: Chorale fantasia, The Old Hundredth (Parry) |
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MonMay06 | ||
TueMay07 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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WedMay08 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Talk: The story of the Temple Church from the Knights Templar to the present day Copy Copy
Free as part of the entrance fee. Choral Evensong for the Eve of Ascension Day
Sung by the Temple Singers
Introit: All people, clap your hands (Weelkes) |
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ThuMay09 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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FriMay10 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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SatMay11 | ||
SunMay12 |
Choral Communion
Sung by the Temple Church Choir
Organ prelude: Melody in C (Walford Davies) |
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MonMay13 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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TueMay14 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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WedMay15 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Choral Evensong
Sung by the Temple Singers
Introit: A prayer of St Patrick (Rutter) |
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ThuMay16 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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FriMay17 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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SatMay18 |
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SunMay19 |
Choral Mattins
Sung by the Temple Church Choir
Introit: Come holy ghost (Tallis) |
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MonMay20 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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TueMay21 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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WedMay22 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Choral Evensong To celebrate all those who have taken Silk this year
Sung by the Temple Singers
Introit: O Lord the maker (Mundy) |
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ThuMay23 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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