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
Saturday 5 October
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 Evensong for the Start of the Legal Year Wednesday 2 October, 5.45pm
SatOct05 | ||
SunOct06 |
Holy Communion
Said service according to the Book of Common Prayer This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Choral Mattins
Sung by the Temple Church Choir
Organ prelude: Rhapsody (Darke)
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel.
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MonOct07 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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TueOct08 |
The Sixteen: Monteverdi Vespers
Monteverdi VespersThe Sixteen choir & orchestraHarry Christophers conductor"Quite simply one of the greatest pieces of sacred music ever written, mixing profound expression with unfailing musical beauty." Harry Christophers describes the dazzling masterpiece which landed Claudio Monteverdi the job of maestro di cappella at St Mark's Basilica in Venice in 1613. Unparalleled in scale and opulence, this extraordinary work shares the same dedication as Temple Church: The Blessed Virgin Mary. And the ancient church is sure to add an acoustic halo, just as St Mark's did when the work was heard there 400 years ago. Duration: approximately 1 hour 50 minutes (including interval) This concert is generously sponsored by: SOLD OUT |
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WedOct09 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Lunchtime Organ Recital: Thomas Hawkes
This recital will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel.
Choral Evensong
Sung by the Temple Singers
Organ prelude : Prelude in E flat (Harris)
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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ThuOct10 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
2:00 pm
Holy Communion
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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FriOct11 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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SatOct12 |
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SunOct13 |
Holy Communion
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Choral Communion
Sung by the Temple Church Choir
Organ prelude: Tune in E in the style of John Stanley (Thalben-Ball)
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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MonOct14 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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TueOct15 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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WedOct16 |
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. Lunchtime Organ Recital: Maria Greco
This recital will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Choral Evensong
Sung by the Temple Singers
Organ prelude : Magnificat anima mea Dominum (Dupré)
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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ThuOct17 |
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. Compline by Candlelight
Sung by the Temple Singers
Introit: Libera nos, salva nos (Sheppard)
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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FriOct18 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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SatOct19 | ||
SunOct20 |
Holy Communion
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Choral Mattins
Sung by the Temple Singers
Organ prelude: Air (Gerre Hancock)
This service will be live-streamed on the Churches YouTube Channel. |
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MonOct21 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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TueOct22 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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WedOct23 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Lunchtime Organ Recital: Thomas Allery, Temple Church
This recital will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. For more information on the lunchtime Recital Series please click here. |
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ThuOct24 |
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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FriOct25 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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SatOct26 | ||
SunOct27 |
Holy Communion
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Choral Communion
Sung by the Temple Church Choir
Organ prelude: Sonata no 5, movement 1 (Mendelssohn)
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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MonOct28 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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TueOct29 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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WedOct30 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
Lunchtime Organ Recital: Charles Andrews, Temple Church
This recital will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. For more information regarding the Lunchtime Recital Series please click here. Choral Evensong
Sung by the Temple Singers
Organ prelude: White note paraphrase (MacMillan)
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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ThuOct31 |
Holy Communion
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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FriNov01 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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SatNov02 | ||
SunNov03 |
Holy Communion
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Please enter the Temple via Tudor Street. Choral Mattins
Sung by the Temple Singers
Organ prelude: Prelude in B minor BWV 544 (Bach)
This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. |
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MonNov04 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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