Temple Church, London, and the Mystery of Knights Templar | 4K

Temple Church, London, and the Mystery of Knights Templar | 4K

The Temple Church: A Chronicle of Crusaders, Kings, and Legal Lore
Tucked away in a serene enclave between London's bustling Fleet Street and the River Thames lies the Temple Church, a place of worship whose very stones echo over 800 years of English history. This remarkable structure, a rare example of a round church in England, stands as a testament to the powerful and enigmatic Knights Templar who built it, and the legal community that has preserved it for centuries.

The House of the Knights Templar
The story of the Temple Church begins in the 12th century with the Knights Templar, an order of crusading monks founded to protect pilgrims on the dangerous journey to the Holy Land. By the mid-12th century, the order had established its English headquarters at the current site, known as the "New Temple".
The most distinctive feature of the church, the circular nave (or "Round Church"), was consecrated on February 10, 1185, by Heraclius, the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Its design was a deliberate and symbolic replica of the most sacred building in the Crusaders' world: the circular Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, believed to be the site of Christ's burial and resurrection.
The Templars in England grew immensely powerful, serving as proto-international bankers and the Temple complex often hosted kings and papal legates. King John even used the church as a royal treasury. This power and wealth ultimately led to their downfall, as the order was suppressed across Europe in the early 14th century, and their English properties passed to the Crown and then to the Knights Hospitaller.

A Cradle of English Law
After the Templars, the Temple complex was leased to colleges of lawyers, who became the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple, two of London's Inns of Court. In 1608, King James I granted the Inns use of the church provided they maintain it. The area is still associated with the legal profession, with the Inns' emblems visible around the church.

Echoes of Magna Carta and Shakespeare
The Temple Church played a role in the events leading to the Magna Carta. In 1215, a meeting mediated by William Marshal occurred in the church between King John and rebellious barons. This meeting helped pave the way for the Magna Carta. William Marshal is buried in the Round Church, and his effigy is among those of medieval knights displayed there. The area also features in Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 1, where the Temple gardens are depicted as the location where the Wars of the Roses began.

Fire and Restoration
The church largely survived the Great Fire of London in 1666, undergoing work by Sir Christopher Wren. However, it was severely damaged by incendiary bombs in 1941 during the Second World War. A fire destroyed the roof, organ, and much of the interior, and the heat damaged the chancel's Purbeck marble columns. The church was restored under architect Walter Godfrey and rededicated in 1958. The restoration used remaining original Purbeck marble to replace damaged columns.
Today, the Temple Church is a working "Royal Peculiar" and is known for its choir and concerts. Its history, architecture, and connections to the Crusades and English law make it a significant historical site.

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Filming Location: London,Temple Church
Date: 07.07.2023

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