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.

What’s On In Summary

MonMay12
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm
TueMay13
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm
WedMay14
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm


Choral Evensong sung by the Bar Choral Society Service 6:00 pm 7:00 pm
ThuMay15
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm

Holy Communion Service 1:15 pm 1:45 pm
FriMay16
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 Talk 11:15 am 12:15 pm
SatMay17
SunMay18
Holy Communion Service 8:30 am 9:00 am

Choral Mattins Service 11:15 am 12:15 pm
MonMay19
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm
TueMay20
SIMULCAST ECUMENICAL SERVICE OF PRAYERS FOR PEACE AND FOR UNITY AT THE 1,700th ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUNCIL OF NICAEA (20 May 325) Service 12:00 pm 1:00 pm
WedMay21
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm


Choral Evensong Service 6:00 pm 7:00 pm
ThuMay22
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm

Holy Communion Service 1:15 pm 1:45 pm
FriMay23
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 Talk 11:15 am 12:15 pm
SatMay24
SunMay25
Holy Communion Service 8:30 am 9:00 am

Choral Communion Service 11:15 am 12:15 pm
MonMay26
TueMay27
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm
WedMay28
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm


Choral Evensong Service 6:00 pm 7:00 pm
ThuMay29
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm

Holy Communion Service 1:15 pm 1:45 pm
FriMay30
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 Talk 11:15 am 12:15 pm
SatMay31
SunJun01
Holy Communion Service 8:30 am 9:00 am

Choral Mattins Service 11:15 am 12:15 pm
MonJun02
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm
TueJun03
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm
WedJun04
Choral Evensong Service 6:00 pm 7:00 pm
ThuJun05
Holy Communion Service 1:15 pm 1:45 pm

Choral Evensong Service 6:00 pm 7:00 pm

Compline by Candlelight Service 9:00 pm 10:00 pm
FriJun06
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 Talk 11:15 am 12:15 pm
SatJun07
SunJun08
Holy Communion Service 8:30 am 9:00 am

Choral Communion Service 11:15 am 12:15 pm
MonJun09
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm
TueJun10
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm
WedJun11
Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am 4:00 pm

Lunchtime Organ Recital: Paolo Oreni Concert 1:15 pm 1:45 pm

Choral Evensong Service 6:00 pm 7:00 pm