How to visit the Temple Church, traces of the Templars in London

If you are interested in the stories of the Knights Templar y the Crusades, or you are passionate about the themes reflected in the best seller The Da Vinci Code, temple church It is a must see in your trip to london.

And if you are not passionate about these topics, it is a highly recommended visit because the temple church It is one of the places in London that will most easily transport you to medieval environments.

The urban area where the Temple church is located was purchased in the mid-12th century by the Order of the Templars, which met in an ancient Roman temple of High Holborn, and due to its strength it already needed a larger place to congregate.

Curiosities history of the Temple church in London

In the new Temple Quarter A monastic complex was built consisting of the church, several residences and recreation areas that would become the headquarters in England of this medieval order.

La temple church was built with a circular plant, in the image and likeness of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, and in fact it was consecrated in 1185 by the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

At that time, the Order of the Templars acquired great power in England.

An example of this was that William marshall, Temple Master At the beginning of the 13th century, he became regent during the reign of Henry III.

After the conquest of Jerusalem by the Saracens, the Order of the Templars lost its meaning, and after its abolition by the Pope in 1307, the temple church passed into the hands of king edward ii.

Finally it came to be used by bar associations named Inner and Middle Temple, who were then looking for a headquarters, and who currently continue to retain responsibility for the maintenance and use of the church and the Temple Quarter.

An important fact in history of temple church was the installation of an organ at the end of the 17th century, after the great London fire of 1666.

Since then, the organ music has become a great protagonist of this church.

In 1841 in the temple church A major remodeling was carried out, which involved being decorated in victorian gothic style.

And, finally, after the bombing suffered by the church in 1941 during the Second World War, a major reform had to be made with the incorporation of a new body.

This reform was not completed until the end of the 50s of the last century.

As I mentioned at the beginning, in recent years the London Temple Church has acquired great prominence by being cited in some of the chapters of the best sellers The Da Vinci Code, as well as the film made in 2006.

Where is it and how to get to the Temple Church

Before your visit, I warn you that it may be difficult for you to find its location.

This church is located in the so-called Temple Quarter, a network of alleys and small squares located between Fleet Street and Thames River, area you can reach in metro to the station Temple.

It is also an option to go to the temple church after visiting the British museum, since it is located to the south of it.

From this museum you can go down the street kingsway but also Beach, and after crossing High Holborn, along the way you can also visit the curious John Soane Museum, and as soon as you reach Fleet Street, St Clement Danes Church.

To access the Temple church, going from Srand by Fleet Street, after leaving the large building of the Courts of Justice, known as the Law Court, to the right you will find a small passage.

A sign tells you that by going down the alley you can reach the small square where the temple church.

This is the experience of visiting the Temple church

It is a small church whose exterior façade already shows you its main characteristic, the large circular ship known as Round Church, which was built in 1185.

Next to it is the rectangular nave, known as Chancel, which was built a century later.

As soon as you enter the interior, to the left you have the circular nave, where you will undoubtedly be surprised by the marble effigies of the knights templar lying on the floor of the aforementioned circular nave.

The explanation lies in the fact that Jerusalem at the time of the Crusades, and therefore, for the Order of the Templars, was considered the center of the world, and this was reflected in medieval maps in which said city occupied the central point.

And the church of the holy sepulcher It is where the body is considered to lie. Christ, so among the Knights Templar of the time being buried in the circular nave of the Temple Church in London It was like being buried in Jerusalem.

In the Round Church for the temple church There are several Knights Templar buried in various tombs, and among them is the aforementioned William marshall, Templar master who had great power at the beginning of the 13th century.

All marble effigies show the Knights Templar lying on the back, but with different positions.

So you can see some with their legs extended, others with their legs crossed; Likewise, their tunics or their swords are in different positions, and the figures are shown with different attitudes.

Of course, in the restoration works that were carried out after the Second World War It was found that no body was buried under these marble effigies.

Therefore, there are only Knights Templar buried in the different tombs and funerary monuments that are arranged on the sides of the church.

Organ concerts at Temple Church

Another element that takes on greater prominence is, without a doubt, the great organ.

Possibly when you visit the temple church You will have the opportunity to listen to how they play it, because this church has a great organ music tradition.

In fact, for many Wednesday of the year takes place organ music concert with the participation of organists from different churches and cathedrals in London and other English cities, as well as the children's choir from the church itself. temple church.

These organ concerts They are held at 13,15:XNUMX p.m., last half an hour, and attendance is free.

Visiting hours of the Temple Church

La temple church It opens almost every day to be visited by the public.

El Visiting hours It is usually from 10 a.m. to 16 p.m., but this time is not fixed, so if you do not want to arrive and find that the temple is closed, it is essential beforehand Check visiting hours on the Temple Church website, In whose home They are published in advance.

Temple Church ticket prices

For visit the Temple Church in London you have to pay one entry whose price is 5 pounds for the general public, 3 pounds for seniors and students, and free for children under 17 years of age.

Photos of the Temple Church

Here you have more photos of the temple church in london.