THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR AND THE TEMPLE CHURCH LONDON

From the Crusades, the turmoil of the Reformation, World War II air raids and 20th century revamps, Temple Church is one of London’s most significant churches. The Church is among the most stunning oldest churches in London. It can be found between Fleet Street and the River Thames. It was constructed by the Knights Templar to house their English HQ.

The Knights Templar were an order of crusading monks established in 1118 to defend pilgrims going to the Holy Land. The Templars soon became one of the most potent orders in Christendom. The Temple Church was consecrated in tribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary in February 1185. The shape of the building represents The Church of The Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where Jesus was buried and is the most sacred place in the Holy Land.

When the Templars sold their Holborn site in 1161, they probably had a church prepared already to use at their New Temple. The Church was simple and clear in design. The Templars were influenced by Cistercian austerity and a flawless example of Gothic-Romanesque construction at its finest was constructed from cream-coloured Caen stone. The Church may also be the first Gothic construction in England. The Chancel was erected about fifty years later. The Inner Temple and Middle Temple portions separately have their own halls, courts, gardens and library. The original church complex contained military teaching capabilities as well as dwellings for royalty and representatives of the Pope. After the Great Fire of 1666, the church, while unharmed, was renovated by Sir Christopher Wren.

In 1841, it was once again restored. The walls and ceilings were ornamented in a Victorian Gothic style. The objective was to bring the church back to its original form. None of this work remains, for the church underwent severe damage in the World War II, blitz on London.

In May 1941, German incendiary bombs set the roof alight and fire rapidly spread to the chapel and the nave. The organ and the wooden parts of the church, including the Victorian renovations, were devastated. The Purbeck marble columns in the chancel also fractured because of the severe heat. Though these columns nevertheless provided support to the vault, they were considered unsafe and were changed in matching form. The original columns had a small outward lean, which architectural oddity was followed in the substitute columns. The Master’s House was burned also down on the same evening.

During the renovation by the architect Walter Godfrey, it was discovered that elements of the 17th-century renovations made by Wren had survived in storage and these were replaced in their original positions. When the roof of the Church, the nave and the chancel caught fire it devastated all the original wooden parts of the church. Including the organ and the Victorian renovations. Another restoration followed. An organ was installed, along with a new east window, which was a gift from the Glaziers’ Company in 1954. This replaced the glass shattered during the War.

Several of the tombs of the nine full-sized stone statues arranged out on the ground of the Church are thought to be those of the Knights Templar. This gives a continuous reminder of the roots of Temple Church. And still after seven hundred years, the Temple Church still resonates with music being made to God. The Temple Church Choir comprises of eighteen boy choristers and twelve qualified choirmen. It’s considered to be one of the best choirs in London, a standing it rapidly gained after its formation. Though its chief responsibility is to enhance the worship in the church services, the choir has also been involved with countless stirring missions outside its church duties. A magnificent Harrison organ can be heard in concert. There are also two ensembles at the church, the Temple Players and the Temple Choir.