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
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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