Services & Ceremonies

Services

Our services at the Temple follow the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. The Book of Common Prayer reached its present form in 1662.

Most of our services are choral. We invite the congregation to join, of course, in singing the hymns, the Venite (at Mattins) and the Creed (at Communion). For the rest, we hope that you will enjoy the singing of the choir and the playing of the organ.

Such a service is an opportunity to bring our own cares quietly to God; and to set those cares within the vast, unfolding purposes of God, our Creator and Redeemer. We hear in these services of God’s unending love for his people and for his whole creation: in the story of the Old Testament and the songs of the psalms; in the story of Jesus himself; in the letters of the apostles; and in the hymns and creeds of the early church. So we learn, as a church and its members, to trust God’s care for ourselves and for those we love; and to entrust ourselves to the life that he calls us to live.

Please click here for forthcoming services

SUNDAYS IN TERM-TIME

8.30am Holy Communion (BCP said) Please note that entry to the Church for this service is via Tudor Street.

11.15am Choral Mattins (BCP)

Choral Communion (BCP) is sung on the second and last Sunday of the month.

Kindly note that no services are held in August and September.

WEEKDAYS IN TERM-TIME

Wednesday, 6.00pm
Choral Evensong

Thursday, 1.15pm–1.45pm
Holy Communion (BCP said)

Kindly note that the no services are held in August and September.

Please click here for forthcoming services

What’s On In Summary

MonMar31	Church closed for sightseeing all –day
TueApr01	Church closed for sightseeing all –day
WedApr02	Church closed for sightseeing all –day NO ORGAN RECITAL ON THIS DAY For more information on the lunchtime Organ Recital Series Click here. Concert 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm No Choral Evensong on this day 6:00 pm– 7:00 pm
ThuApr03	Church closed for sightseeing all –day NO HOLY COMMUNION ON THIS DAY Service 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm Parsifal Act III with the Prelude to Act I Legends of the Knights Templar loom large in Wagner’s last music drama. We present a fully-staged performance of the final act – which includes the famous Good Friday Music. From the achingly beautiful Prelude to the transcendent finale, the particular acoustics of the Temple Church are sure to cast a magical spell on this sublime music (heard in a new arrangement for 35-piece orchestra). A run of just two performances: on Thursday 3rd; and Friday 4th April. Cast Gurnemanz - Simon Wilding Parsifal - Neal Cooper Amfortas - Freddie Tong Kundry - Natasha Jouhl Titurel - Robin Griffith-Jones (non-singing part) Creative team Director - Julia Burbach Conductor - Peter Selwyn Set designer - Claudia Fragoso Costume designer - Helen Hebert Lighting designer - Andy Purves Arranger - Prof Matthew King A gala dinner will take place in Inner Temple Hall after this evening's performance (tickets: £95). A joint production with The Honourable Society of The Inner Temple. More information and booking. Concert 7:00 pm– 8:00 pm
FriApr04	Church closed for sightseeing all –day Parsifal Act III with the Prelude to Act I Legends of the Knights Templar loom large in Wagner’s last music drama. We present a fully-staged performance of the final act – which includes the famous Good Friday Music. From the achingly beautiful Prelude to the transcendent finale, the particular acoustics of the Temple Church are sure to cast a magical spell on this sublime music (heard in a new arrangement for 35-piece orchestra). A run of just two performances: on Thursday 3rd; and Friday 4th April. Cast Gurnemanz - Simon Wilding Parsifal - Neal Cooper Amfortas - Freddie Tong Kundry - Natasha Jouhl Titurel - Robin Griffith-Jones (non-singing part) Creative team Director - Julia Burbach Conductor - Peter Selwyn Set designer - Claudia Fragoso Costume designer - Helen Hebert Lighting designer - Andy Purves Arranger - Prof Matthew King A gala dinner will take place in Inner Temple Hall after the Thursday performance (tickets: £95). A joint production with The Honourable Society of The Inner Temple. More information and booking. Concert 7:00 pm– 8:00 pm
SatApr05	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
SunApr06	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. Service 8:30 am– 9:00 am Choral Mattins Sung by the Temple Singers Introit: Let thy merciful ears (Mudd) Responses: (Byrd) Psalm 112 First Canticle: Bairstow Lamentations (1-7) Second Canticle: O Saviour of the world (Walford Davies) Anthem O Lord look down (Battishill) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
MonApr07	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
TueApr08	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
WedApr09	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 Lunchtime Organ Recital: Charles Andrews - last recital of term For more information on the lunchtime Organ Recital Series Click here. Concert 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm Choral Evensong Sung by the Temple Singers Introit: O thou Lord, thou God of might (Gibbons) Responses: (Byrd) Psalm 136 (1-12) Canticles: Schutz German Magnificat Nunc dimittis: Tertii toni (Victoria) Anthem: Jehova quam multi sunt hostes mei (Purcell) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 6:00 pm– 7:00 pm
ThuApr10	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Holy Communion This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm
FriApr11	Church open for sightseeing Please note earlier closing of 1pm 10:00 am– 1:00 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
SatApr12	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
SunApr13	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. Service 8:30 am– 9:00 am Choral Communion for Palm Sunday Sung by the Temple Singers Introit: Gibbons Hosanna to the Son of David Setting: Missa Cantuariensis (Rubbra) Psalm 73 (22-end) Motet: Pueri Hebraeorum (Victoria) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
MonApr14	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Compline by Candlelight Sung by the Temple Singers Introit: O Vos Omnes (Victoria) Psalm 91 In manus tuas (Tallis) Office hymn: Te lucis ante terminum (Tallis, ferial tone) Nunc dimittis: Byrd Anthem: Byrd Civitas Sancti tui This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 9:00 pm– 10:00 pm
TueApr15	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
WedApr16	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 2:00 pm The Crucifixion by Stainer Sung by the Temple Singers For more information please click here. Special Event 6:00 pm– 7:30 pm
ThuApr17	Church closed for sightseeing all –day Choral Communion for Maundy Thursday Sung by the Temple Singers Setting: Missa Brevis (Palestrina) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 1:15 pm– 2:15 pm
FriApr18	Church closed for sightseeing all –day Choral Mattins for Good Friday Sung by the Temple Church Choir With music by Bach, Blow, Lotti and Sanders This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
SatApr19	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day Easter Vigil and First Communion of Easter Sung by the Temple Singers Setting: Missa Ego Flos Campi (Padilla) Gradual: Haec dies (Byrd) Communion Motet: Tulerunt dominum meum (Gombert) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 8:00 pm– 9:00 pm
SunApr20	Church Closed for sightseeing 12:00 am– 12:00 am Choral Communion for Easter Day Sung by the Temple Church Choir Introit: Surrexit Christus hodie (Scheidt) Mass setting: Chester Missa Brevis (Martin) Psalm Easter Anthems Anthem: Halleluia Chorus (Handel) Anthem: Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart) This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 11:15 am– 12:15 pm
MonApr21	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
TueApr22	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
WedApr23	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
ThuApr24	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
FriApr25	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
SatApr26	Church Closed for sightseeing all –day
SunApr27	Church Closed for sightseeing 12:00 am– 12:00 am No Services today all –day
MonApr28	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
TueApr29	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm
WedApr30	Church open for sightseeing 10:00 am– 4:00 pm Organ recital - Piotr Maziarz (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire) in collaboration with The Keyboard Trust For more information on the lunchtime Organ Recital Series Click here. Concert 1:15 pm– 1:45 pm Easter Carol Service Sung by the Temple Singers This service will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel. Service 6:00 pm– 7:00 pm

Baptism & Confirmation

We are delighted that you are considering the Temple Church for your own or your child’s baptism or confirmation and hope that the following points will be helpful.

— Baptism and Confirmation at the Temple Church is available to all Benchers and members of the Inner and Middle Temple and their children, and to members of our regular congregation and their children.

— If you would like to discuss this further please contact Catherine de Satgé in the Church Office on 020 7353 8559 or catherine@templechurch.com

— We are glad that a good proportion of our baptism and confirmation families are able to return occasionally or regularly to the Temple Church and so become part of our community here.

Marriage

With this ring I thee wed;
with my body I thee honour;
and all my worldly goods with thee I share:
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

You are likely to be visiting this part of the site because you have recently got engaged. If that is the case
— many congratulations to you both!

First things first: some administration
The Temple Church is a beautiful church for weddings. In case you are thinking of being married here, it may be helpful to outline the conditions that must be satisfied.

The Church does not have a licence for the celebration of weddings, and it is thanks to kind permission from the Archbishop of Canterbury that we can conduct them here. The Archbishop lays down clear conditions for the granting of the Special Licence that we require. For a couple to be married here,
it is necessary that:

i. either the bride or the groom is a member of Inner or of Middle Temple; or

ii. either the bride or the groom is a child of a member of Inner or of Middle Temple; or

iii. either the bride or the groom is a grandchild of a Bencher of Inner or of Middle Temple.

The Archbishop’s office is also very pleased to consider our applications on behalf of couples where:

iv. either the bride or the groom is employed by Chambers in the Temple or by Inner or Middle Temple; or

v. either the bride or the groom is a regular member of our congregation here

For further details, you may like to download the Wedding Guide and then to contact Catherine de Satgé in the Church Office on 020 7353 8559 or catherine@templechurch.com

We look forward to hearing from you.

Funeral & Thanksgiving

Go forth upon thy journey from this world, beloved soul: in the name of God the Father who created thee; in the name of Jesus Christ his only Son who hath redeemed thee; in the name of the Holy Spirit who gave thee life and giveth thee life still. Accompanied by angels and archangels and by all the company of heaven, may thy portion this day be in peace, and thy dwelling place the heavenly Jerusalem.

It is a privilege for us to conduct here the Funeral and/or the Thanksgiving Service for a member of one of the Inns or a member of our congregation.

If you would like our help, please contact Catherine de Satgé in the Church Office on 020 7353 8559 or catherine@templechurch.com. We realise that you will need to arrange the funeral, in particular, at short notice and at a most unsettled time.

You will probably be visiting this part of the site if you have yourself been recently bereaved; we are here to help, and hope that we can offer here the farewell and tribute that you are hoping for, for one you love. We will have you in our prayers and thoughts as we prepare the service with you.