Temple Church - Free Audio Guide

Temple Church in London was founded in the late 12th century by the Knights Templar. Its distinctive circular nave, modelled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, and the subsequent chancel show Romanesque to early Gothic development. Closely linked with Inner Temple and Middle Temple—the Inns of Court—the church symbolises the connection between medieval knighthood and the English legal profession. Key features include the round church, a chancel housing medieval stone effigies of knights, intricately carved capitals and heraldic memorials. Heavily damaged in the Second World War, it was sympathetically restored, preserving significant medieval fabric. The site is culturally important for history, law and architecture, and accommodates services, concerts and legal ceremonies. Visitor access is generally possible but varies with services and events; a modest admission contribution may apply and some historic parts have restricted accessibility.