The Organ

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

SunApr19	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day Holy Communion Said service according to the Book of Common Prayer Please enter the Temple via Tudor Street. Service 8:30 am– 9:00 am Easter Carol Service Sung by the Temple Singers Organ: Rhapsody in E (Darke) Five mystical songs (Vaughan Williams) Organ: Saraband for the morning of Easter (Howells) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel View the order of service. Service 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
MonApr20	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. Talk 12:30 pm– 1:30 pm
TueApr21	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
WedApr22	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Organ recital - Charles Andrews (Temple Church) Concert 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm Choral Evensong Sung by the Temple Youth Choir Introit: Abendlied (Rheinberger) Responses: Smith Canticles: Howells in B minor Anthem: Alleluia I heard a voice (Janet Wheeler) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 6:00 pm– 7:00 pm
ThuApr23	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. Talk 11:15 am– 12:15 pm Holy Communion Service 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm
FriApr24	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
SatApr25	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
SunApr26	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day Holy Communion Said service according to the Book of Common Prayer Please enter the Temple via Tudor Street Service 8:30 am– 9:00 am Choral Communion Sung by the Temple Church Choir Introit: This joyful Eastertide (Dutch carol arr Charles Wood) Setting: Orgelsolomesse K259 (Mozart) Psalm: 57 Anthem: Ubi caritas (Durufle) Organ: Herzlich tut mich erfreuen (Brahms) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
MonApr27	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. Talk 12:30 pm– 1:30 pm
TueApr28	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
WedApr29	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Organ recital: Rupert Gough (St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield) Concert 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm Choral Evensong Sung by the Temple Church Choir Introit: Let god arise in Majesty (Tallis) Responses: Smith Canticles: Purcell in G minor Anthem: O clap your hands (Gibbons) Service 6:00 pm– 7:00 pm
ThuApr30	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Holy Communion Service 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm
FriMay01	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. Talk 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
SatMay02	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
SunMay03	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day Holy Communion Service 8:30 am– 9:00 am Choral Mattins Service 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
MonMay04	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
TueMay05	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
WedMay06	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Organ recital: Miriam Reveley (Jesus College, Cambridge) Concert 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm Choral Evensong Sung by the Temple Church Choir Organ: Fantasia in G (Parry) Introit: Rejoice in the Lord (Anon) Responses: Smith Canticles: Second service (Gibbons) Anthem: Zadok the priest (Handel) Organ: Fugue in G (Parry) Service 6:00 pm– 7:00 pm
ThuMay07	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Holy Communion Service 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm
FriMay08	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 3:00 pm Wedding Rehearsal 3:00 pm– 4:00 pm
SatMay09	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
SunMay10	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day Holy Communion Service 8:30 am– 9:00 am Choral Communion Sung by the Temple Singers Service 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
MonMay11	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. Talk 12:30 pm– 1:30 pm
TueMay12	Church open for sightseeing (Please note earlier closing of 2pm) 10:00 am– 2:00 pm
WedMay13	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm NO ORGAN RECITAL TODAY Concert 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm Choral Evensong Sung by the Temple Singers Introit: Coelos ascendit hodie (Stanford) Responses: Leighton Magnificat: Murill in E Anthem: Cozzolani Laetatus sum Organ voluntary: Heut’ triumphieret Gottes Sohn BWV 630 (Bach) Service 6:00 pm– 7:00 pm
ThuMay14	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Holy Communion Service 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm
FriMay15	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
SatMay16	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
SunMay17	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day Holy Communion Service 8:30 am– 9:00 am Choral Mattins Sung by the Temple Singers Organ prelude : A fancy (Orlando Gibbons) Introit: If ye love me (Tallis) Responses: Byrd Te Deum: Short service (Gibbons) Benedictus: Short service (Gibbons) Anthem: Thy word is a lantern (Purcell) Service 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
MonMay18	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. Talk 12:30 pm– 1:30 pm
TueMay19	Church open for sightseeing (Please note earlier closing at 2pm) 10:00 am– 2:00 pm A New Venetian Coronation The Gabrieli Consort & Players The Gabrieli Consort & Players return to the programme that put them on the musical map when they recorded and released it in 1990: A Venetian Coronation 1595 is a musical recreation evoking the grand pageantry of the Coronation Mass for Venetian Doge Marino Grimani. His love of ceremony and state festivals fuelled an extraordinary musical bounty during his reign and formed the background to the musical riches of the period, especially to the works of Giovanni Gabrieli. With cornetts, sackbuts and an all-male consort, Paul McCreesh exploits the dazzling polyphony of Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli’s music. The theatrical and ceremonious performance is sure to captivate our audience. More information and booking Concert 7:30 pm– 9:00 pm A Venetian Coronation 1595 - Gabrieli Consort and Players Gabrieli return to the programme that put them on the musical map when they recorded and released it in 1990: A Venetian Coronation 1595 is a musical recreation evoking the grand pageantry of the Coronation Mass for Venetian Doge Marino Grimani. His love of ceremony and state festivals fuelled an extraordinary musical bounty during his reign and formed the background to the musical riches of the period, especially to the works of Giovanni Gabrieli. With cornetts, sackbuts and an all-male consort, Paul McCreesh exploits the dazzling polyphony of Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli’s music. The theatrical and ceremonious performance is sure to captivate our audience. The running time of this concert is approximately 85 minutes, no interval. The performance should end at approximately 9pm. Concert 7:30 pm– 8:40 pm

What’s On In Summary

The Gabrieli Consort & Players