The Temple Church is one of the oldest churches in London. It was built by the Knights Templar and the round church dates back to 1120. The Templars were an order of crusading monks founded to protect the pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land. The Temple Church was their headquarters in England and was designed to be similar to the circular church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Walk inside and you can't help but be impressed.
Cast of the effigy of King John (1166-1216). The original effigy is in Worcester Cathedral.
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| The Temple Church |
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
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In 1608 King James VI and I granted all the Templars' former land between Fleet Street and the River Thames to the societies of Inner and Middle Temple, two of London's Inns of Court. Every barrister in England and Wales must, to this day,still belong to one of the four Inns.
To Mark the 400th anniversary of this event a stained glass window was commissioned. It shows the scales of justice are suspended from the sword in the centre. Either side of the crown are the symbols from the Coat of Arms of James VI of Scotland and I of England: the three lions of England, the Scottish lion rampant, the Irish harp and fleur d'lys of France.
The left and right hand lights are the symbols of the two Inns.The Pegasus of the Inner Temple and the Lamb and Flag of the Middle Temple
The inscription states' Repaired and Beautified 1687'
The stone staircase takes you to an upper gallery where you have views of the nave.
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The church was also used for the filming of Dan Brown's 'Da Vinci Code'
Oh my Gosh, those grotesques/gargoyles (I don't know the difference) ... yikes, no wonder they filmed Da Vinci there (I've read the book, didn't see the movie).
ReplyDeleteBut the rest of the church is beautiful.
Wow I love this history and the Knights Templar and beautiful old churches. I think I should move to England! All the way from California. I would spend day and night visiting historic sites, and worshiping in the churches.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful old church, all of it. I love the stained glass but was also very impressed with the tile floor on the viewing gallery.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this.
Diana
I fancy one of those grotesques. I could imagine one on or even in my own home. Perhaps the one that's picking his nose or the one that has the cat (looks like that to me anyway) over his shoulder.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting about this. I am fascinated by the Knights Templar and will be getting my London fix again soon, so will give this one a visit while near Fleet Street! Have a great Sunday xx
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ReplyDeleteThat is a fine collection of gargoyles!
A rather serie of scary sculptures there, the stained windows are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and spooky at the same time! :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful church, both inside and outside! Next time I'm in London I'll make sure to not miss it.
ReplyDeleteSo beautifully seeped in history, as is much of the architecture in your world. The gargoyles are fantastical, especially in juxtaposition with the stained glass windows.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this fascinating journey with its wonderful architecture, history and beautiful artwork
ReplyDeleteAmazing history and such divine photography of a beautiful place with fun gargoyles ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you Happy Days ahead ~ ^_^
I love it - I can't imagine a building that old. We just watched the Da Vinci Code this weekend.
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I wonder what the purpose of the grotesques was.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots of church. The sculptures are very nice.
ReplyDeleteLove that gargoyle picking its nose. And so beautiful inside the church too.
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