The Organ - Temple Church

The Temple Church has been fortunate to have had many fine organs to enhance its music and worship. The present organ was installed in the church by its builder, Harrison & Harrison Ltd, in 1954. The case, behind which is the four manual organ complete with three 32-ft stops, is modelled on drawings of the Temple’s Father Smith organ of 1688.

From 1683 (the year Father Smith and Renatus Harris were commissioned to compete for the contract to install an organ in the Temple Church), the instruments have been well documented. However, the earliest mention of an organ in the Temple Church appears in an inventory made by the Sheriffs of London in 1307 which mentions that there were In the Great Church ‘Two pairs of organs and in the quire a book for the organs and two cushions for the chanter’s chairs.’

Please click here for information on upcoming Organ Recitals

What’s On In Summary

SunDec08	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day Holy Communion This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 8:30 am– 9:00 am Temple Church Carol Service Sung by the Temple Church Choir This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. This service will be repeated on Thursday 12 December and Sunday 15 December. Booking required for Sunday services only by email to Catherine@templechurch.com View the order of service Service 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
MonDec09	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
TueDec10	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
WedDec11	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
ThuDec12	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Holy Communion Service 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm Temple Church Carol Service Sung by the Temple Church Choir No booking required This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. View the order of service Service 6:00 pm– 7:00 pm
FriDec13	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Early Music Christmas Concert: 'Navidad Nuestra' PROGRAMME Navidad nuestra: ‘Huida’ Ariel Ramírez (Argentina) Introitus 'Hodie Scietis' Old Roman Chant Hanacpachap cussicuinin Anonymous (Peru) Conductus 'Congaudeant Catholici' Codex Calixtinus (Spain) Marizápalos a lo Divino ‘Serafín que, con dulce harmonía’ Joan Cererols (Spain) Gaudete Anonymous (UK) Desvelado dueño mio Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco (Peru) Offertorium 'Tollite Portas' Old Roman Chant Convidando está la noche Juan García de Zéspedes (Mexico) Vayan unas especies Esteban Salas (Cuba) UK PREMIERE Antiphona 'Media Vita in Morte Sumus' Templar Chant San Sabeya Gugurumbé Mateo Flecha ‘el Viejo’ (Spain) Dennos lecencia Señores Martínez Compañón Codex (Peru) ARTISTS Idrîsî Ensemble Monteverde Consort & special guest soloists: Ana Beard Fernández soprano Julia Merino mezzosoprano Jesús León tenor This event is presented by the Instituto Cervantes with the kind support of the Iberian & Latin American Music Society (ILAMS) and the Spanish Embassy Join us this December 13th for what promises to be a Christmas concert like no other. Ancient chants and toe-tapping rhythms collide in this unique event journeying through a millennium of early Latin and Hispanic sacred Christmas music treasures, including the UK premiere of a villancico by Cuban Baroque composer, Esteban Salas. Joined by a stellar line-up of pre-eminent Hispanic soloists, the groundbreaking Medieval specialist Idrîsî Ensemble join forces with the Monteverde Consort to celebrate vibrant, festive songs from Spain and Latin America, interlacing Amerindian and Afro styles with the entrancing, mystical sounds of the Roman world. Inspired by our historic c.1163 venue, the Temple Church, the group will also revive music from the site’s earliest days, including a 12th-century chant associated with the Knights Templar who established this place as their spiritual home. Click here for more information and booking Concert 7:30 pm– 9:00 pm
SatDec14	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
SunDec15	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day Holy Communion Service 8:30 am– 9:00 am Temple Church Carol Service Sung by the Temple Church Choir This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Booking required for this service by email to Catherine@templechurch.com View the order of service Service 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
MonDec16	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Temple Church Carol Service Sung by the Temple Singers This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 6:00 pm– 7:00 pm
TueDec17	Church Closed for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
WedDec18	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm "Bah Humbug?"- Certainly not! Carols & Readings for Christmas Sung by the Temple Singers A more secular service of Christmas carols and readings. Booking not required. This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel Service 6:00 pm– 7:00 pm
ThuDec19	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Holy Communion Service 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm
FriDec20	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
SatDec21	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
SunDec22	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day Choral Communion Sung by the Temple Singers Organ: Prelude in E minor BWV548 (Bach) Introit: Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Michael Praetorius) Setting: Missa brevis (Berkeley) or Chester Missa brevis (Matthew Martin) Psalm 145 (17-end) Anthem: Kindle a light (Michael Fleming) Organ: Fugue in E minor BWV548 (Bach) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
MonDec23	Church Closed for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
TueDec24	Church Closed for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Midnight Choral Communion Sung by the Temple Singers This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 11:15 pm– 12:15 am
WedDec25	Church Closed for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Choral Mattins for Christmas Day Sung the Temple Church Choir Organ: Pieds en l’air (Warlock arr Edward Dean) Psalm 98 Te Deum: Ireland in F Jubilate: Britten in C Carol: Away in a manger Organ: Radetzky March (Johann Strauss I) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
ThuDec26	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
FriDec27	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
SatDec28	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
SunDec29	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
MonDec30	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
TueDec31	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
WedJan01	Church Closed for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
ThuJan02	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
FriJan03	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
SatJan04	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
SunJan05	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
MonJan06	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
TueJan07	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm