Temple Church, London

The Temple Church, located in London, is a beautiful religious house, distinguished by its round nave. It was built by the Knights Templar.

The order of these knights promoted the building of headquarters in one of the typical round churches on the north bank of the Thames and called it the New Temple. The Temple Church was independent of the Diocese of London and was under the protection of the Crown.

In 1185, the Temple Church was consecrated in the name of the Virgin Mary by the patriarch of Jerusalem. In the following century, the eastern part, where the altar is, was added to its building. Her crypt served as a place where secret knighthood ceremonies were held.

In 1312, the Templar order was banned and their church passed into the hands of the Knights Hospitaller, who in turn granted part of the property to lawyers. The Jurists were granted the whole of the Temple Church by James I in perpetuity, but required of them the entire maintenance of the religious temple.

The Temple Church experienced three restorations - in the 1920s, 1940s and 1960s.