The Battle of the Organs

Sung by the Temple Singers

Organ prelude: A fancy (Orlando Gibbons)
Introit: If ye love me (Tallis) 
Responses: Byrd
Psalm TBC
Te Deum & Benedictus: Short service (Gibbons)
Anthem: Thy word is a lantern (Purcell) 
Organ voluntary: Fantasia in G (Byrd)

This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel.

View the order of service.

Free as part of the entrance fee.

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.

Sung by the Temple Church Choir 

Organ prelude: Prelude in F (Stanford)
Introit: Before the ending of the day (Walford Davies) 
Responses: Clucas 
Psalm TBA
Canticles: Stanford in A 
Anthem: Omnes gentes plaudite (Tye) 
Organ voluntary: Fantasia in D minor (Stanford)

Free as part of the entrance fee.

Raphael Wallfisch, cello
J S Bach: Cello Suites, numbers 1, 2 and 3

Experience an unforgettable evening of music as renowned British cellist Raphael Wallfisch brings to life the timeless genius of Johann Sebastian Bach. Performing the first three of Bach’s iconic Cello Suites entirely from memory, Wallfisch offers a rare and intimate interpretation of these masterpieces ahead of a landmark recording project.

This concert forms part of an ambitious series to record all six suites in architecturally extraordinary venues, many linked to Sir Christopher Wren, a contemporary of Bach. Each location has been carefully chosen for its unique acoustics and natural light, elements that profoundly shape both performance and listening experience. Among these, Temple Church stands out not only for its beauty but for its musical legacy, having hosted Paul Tortelier’s celebrated recording over four decades ago.

Wallfisch’s project will mark the first time he has recorded the complete Bach Cello Suites, making this performance an extraordinary preview of something truly historic. In the luminous and resonant surroundings of Temple Church, music and architecture meet, creating a powerful artistic dialogue where sound, space, and structure inspire one another.

This special event is more than a concert. It is a celebration of artistic excellence and heritage, while also supporting Temple Church’s £6.7m redevelopment project - including the creation of a new Song School, disabled access and enhanced public facilities.

Join us for an evening where music, history, and purpose come together in perfect harmony.

This event is promoted by Temple Church Trust.

Sung the Temple Church Choir

Organ prelude: Komm, heiliger Geist BuxWV 199 (Buxtehude)
Introit: The spirit of the Lord (Thalben-Ball)
Setting: Mozart in B flat
Psalm 104 vv 24-35a
Motet: Dum complerentur dies Pentecostes (Palestrina)
Organ voluntary: Fantasia super ‘Komm, heiliger Geist’ BWV 651 (Bach)

Free as part of the entrance fee.

Free as part of the entrance fee.

We’re delighted to welcome to Temple Church ground-breaking saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist, Courtney Pine CBE for an intimate show with MOBO award-winning pianist, Zoe Rahman.

The widely celebrated, multi award-winning musician has played some of the largest stages in the world with a career spanning four decades and now shares his 16th studio album, SONG (The Ballad Book), created alongside Rahman, with us.
At the cutting edge of the UK jazz scene and constantly pushing boundaries, Pine has worked with Tate Modern and UNESCO, is a professor of Music at Westminster University, and is a widely respected TV and radio broadcaster – together with his CBE and OBE for services to music!