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. All our services are live-streamed and can be found on the Church's YouTube Channel.
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
Tuesday 11 February
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 Evensong to celebrate the 800th Anniversary (to the day!) of the Sealing of the final Iteration of Magna Carta. Tuesday 11 February, 6.00pm
Special service to celebrate the 800th Anniversary (to the day!) of the Sealing of the final Iteration of Magna Carta.
Guest speaker: David Carpenter, Professor of Medieval History, Kings College, London
Sung by the Temple Singers
Organ Prelude: Voluntary in D (John Stanley)
Preces: Rose
Psalm 119 vv 1-8
Magnificat: Stanford in B flat
Anthem: Beati quorum via (Stanford)
Organ voluntary : Andante maestoso (William Lloyd Webber)
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel.
TueFeb11 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Magna Carta Choral Evensong
Special service to celebrate the 800th Anniversary (to the day!) of the Sealing of the final Iteration of Magna Carta. Guest speaker: David Carpenter, Professor of Medieval History, Kings College, London Sung by the Temple Singers Organ Prelude: Voluntary in D (John Stanley)
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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WedFeb12 |
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 CANCELLED
This is talk is cancelled due to illness Lunchtime Organ Recital: Sebastian Johansson
For more information on the lunchtime Organ Recital Series Click here. This recital will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Choral Evensong for Valentines Day
Thanksgiving for all the Weddings celebrated and blessed at the Temple Church. Sung by the Temple Singers Introit: If ye love me (Tallis) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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ThuFeb13 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Holy Communion
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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FriFeb14 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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SatFeb15 | ||
SunFeb16 |
Church Closed for sightseeing
12:00 am–
12:00 am
Holy Communion
Please enter the Temple via Tudor Street. This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Choral Mattins
Sung by the Temple Church Choir
Introit: This is my commandment (Thalben Ball) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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MonFeb17 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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TueFeb18 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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WedFeb19 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Lunchtime Organ Recital: Julian Thomas
For more information on the lunchtime Organ Recital Series Click here. This recital will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Choral Evensong
Sung by the Temple Singers
Introit: O God, my strength and fortitude (Scotland, anon, 16th century) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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ThuFeb20 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Holy Communion
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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FriFeb21 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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SatFeb22 | ||
SunFeb23 |
Church Closed for sightseeing
12:00 am–
12:00 am
Holy Communion
Please enter the Temple via Tudor Street. This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Choral Communion
Sung by the Temple Singers
Introit: O King enthroned on high (Walford Davies) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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MonFeb24 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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TueFeb25 |
Temple Music Foundation Conert: Spring Sonata
Sophie Rosa (violin) Martin Roscoe (piano) The first instalment in a day of music bidding farewell to winter and ushering in spring. This lunchtime recital pairs two of the most beloved works in the violin repertoire, closing with the virtuosic wedding bells of Franck’s sonata. Martin Roscoe is one of the UK’s best-loved and most prolific pianists; to perform this glorious, sunny music he is joined by another outstanding musician also hailing from the North of England, violinist Sophie Rosa. Beethoven: Violin Sonata No.5 ‘Spring’ Duration: approximately 55 minutes (no interval) For more information and booking click here. Temple Music Foundation Conert: Notes of Old
Notes of Old Helen Charlston (mezzo-soprano) Sholto Kynoch (piano) Winner of the 2023 BBC Music Magazine Vocal Award, Helen Charlston, joins pianist Sholto Kynoch in a programme which weaves together music from across the centuries. Music by Bach, Monteverdi and Sweelinck resonates in unexpected ways with songs by Schubert, Hahn, and our featured emerging composer Anna Semple – highlighting the enduring tapestry of human experience that transcends temporal boundaries! The pair then perform Schumann’s Kerner Lieder, an extraordinary cycle of love and loss, that also owes much to music of the past. Frederic Mompou: Pour evoquer l'image du passé J.S. Bach: Widerstehe doch der Sünde Anna Semple: I am not yours Reynaldo Hahn: À Chloris Interval Robert Schumann: Kerner Lieder, Op.35
Duration: approximately 90 minutes (including interval) |
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WedFeb26 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Lunchtime Organ Recital: Students from Merchant Taylors School
For more information on the lunchtime Organ Recital Series Click here. This recital will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Choral Evensong for St David's Day
Sung by the London Welsh Male Voice Choir. |
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ThuFeb27 |
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
Free as part of the entrance fee. Holy Communion
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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FriFeb28 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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SatMar01 | ||
SunMar02 |
Church Closed for sightseeing
12:00 am–
12:00 am
Holy Communion
Please enter the Temple via Tudor Street. This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Choral Mattins
Sung by the Temple Singers This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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MonMar03 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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TueMar04 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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WedMar05 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Lunchtime Organ Recital: James Borrie
For more information on the lunchtime Organ Recital Series Click here. This recital will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Choral Evensong for Ash Wednesday
Sung by the Temple Church Choir
Introit: Call to remembrance (Farrant) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel.
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ThuMar06 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Holy Communion
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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FriMar07 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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SatMar08 | ||
SunMar09 |
Church Closed for sightseeing
12:00 am–
12:00 am
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MonMar10 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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TueMar11 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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WedMar12 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Lunchtime Organ Recital: Holly Broadbent
For more information on the lunchtime Organ Recital Series Click here. |
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ThuMar13 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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