Over the road from the Royal Courts of Justice is a black gate with two smaller black doors, go through the ajar door and head down the road (Middle Temple Lane) behind the gate. The Temple Church is signposted, bearing to your left (east).

The church was built by the Knights Templar, the order of crusading monks founded to protect pilgrims on their way to and from Jerusalem in the 12th century. The Church is in two parts: the Round (nave) and the Chancel. The Round Church was consecrated in 1185 by the patriarch of Jerusalem. It was designed to recall the holiest place in the Crusaders' world: the circular Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem (the church built on the site where Christ was crucified).

You're permitted to enter the church and even take pictures - with the proviso that you're considerate to those for whom it is place of worship. It has some beautiful stained glass windows and unusually, interior gargoyles running around the inside of the church.

Possesion moved from the Knights Templar to the Knights Hospitaller and then to the Crown. The church is surrounded by the Inns of Inner and Middle Temple, with some of the most striking architecture and peaceful gardens to be found in any modern city. In 1608 Inner and Middle Temple were granted ownership of the church in perpetuity and continue to use the Temple as their chapel, on condition that they maintain and support it.

There are 9 effigies of Medieval Knights arranged on the floor of the church, which feature in the film "The Da Vinci Code" and there are always one or two visitors, who are there  via its association with the book and film. However a great many don't make it, because it is difficult to find without a guide. Follow the instructions above, and use the map below to sniff it out for yourself.

There's more detail about this area, with other nearby sights in this article about the Temple and Inns of Court.

 

 

Inner Temple Lane, London, London EC4Y 7BB.

Temple Tube.

Call:    020 7353 8559

 

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