Temple Church, London, Medieval church in Inner Temple, City of London, United Kingdom
Temple Church is a medieval house of worship in the Inner Temple, City of London, built with a round nave and a rectangular choir. The older circular section measures about 55 feet (17 meters) across and displays nine marble floor effigies of knights.
The Templars erected the round church in 1162 modeled after the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and used it as the English headquarters for the order. During the reign of King John, the building served as the royal treasury and played a key role in medieval finance for the Crown.
The name comes from the Templar knights who once prayed here, while today lawyers from the neighboring Inns walk through the building. The round walls in the older part still echo the connection to Jerusalem and the religious ideas of medieval knights.
Access is possible on weekdays, though the building often closes for private events and opening hours may vary. Students pay a reduced entry fee, while members of the Inns of Court enter without charge.
The floor effigies show knights with crossed or outstretched legs, which old tradition claims indicates whether they joined a crusade. This reading cannot be confirmed clearly by history and remains a subject of discussion among experts.
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