The Temple Church Choir

The Temple Church Choir consists of sixteen boy and girl 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

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