The Temple Church Choir consists of sixteen boy choristers and twelve professional choirmen and was founded after the Victorian restoration of the church in 1841 by Dr Edward John Hopkins. It is still considered to be one of the finest choirs in London, a reputation it quickly gained after its founding. Though its main duty is to enhance the worship in the services in the ancient Temple Church, the choir has also been involved with many exciting projects outside its liturgical commitments. The established musical tradition of the Temple Church has encompassed many distinguished and formidable musicians in church music, and some of the great figures in Anglican Church music have composed and played within its walls. Handel was a visitor to the church to hear the virtuoso blind organist and composer, John Stanley, who was appointed Organist to the Society of the Inner Temple in 1734.
In the nineteenth century, Hopkin’s successor, Sir Henry Walford Davies, further developed the reputation of the church’s music and its choir before becoming organist at St George’s Chapel, Windsor and ultimately Master of the King’s Musick. Sir George Thalben-Ball followed and under his direction the choir attracted such a following that queues for services often spilled out of the Temple into Fleet Street. Of the many recordings that the choir made during Thalben-Ball’s tenure, the most famous featured the Temple chorister Master Ernest Lough. In 1927, HMV recorded Master Lough singing Mendelssohn’s Hear my Prayer which includes O for the Wings of a Dove. Within six months, the original master had worn out and a replacement – the one still available today – was recorded a year later. Its popularity earned the recording a gold disc for selling over a million copies and made Ernest Lough and the Temple Church a household name. Ernest continued to sing as a choirman once his voice had broken, and two of his three sons, followed in their father’s footsteps and became Temple choristers. Ernest’s Lough’s sons still attend occasional services and events at the church.
In the last twenty-five years, the music of the church has been under the direction of Dr John Birch, Stephen Layton, James Vivian and Roger Sayer. Thomas Allery became Director of Music in September 2023.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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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: Charles Andrews
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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FriMar14 |
Church open for sightseeing
10:00 am–
4:00 pm
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SatMar15 |