The Heart of London Is Inspiring

Full of life, movement and noise - heart of London which is inspiring already. Within the Temple, The Round Church lies surrounded by the ancient buildings in a traffic-free, green place of calm bounded by the rather hazy River Thames and in between the Fleet Street. The entrance through the gateways, possible to take either of the Inner or the Middle Temple which was apparently designed by an amateur of architecture, built in 1684 with brick and huge Ionic pilasters and a pediment. The Inner Template Gateway was made out of timber, plaster and brick with a pleasant looking room located over the gateway.

Where the tides of history have shifted, the place being demolished and rebuilt, damaged then restored, reduced to ruin and again skilfully refurbished. With over eight hundred years of history what draws attention to the building, as it is the one of the most historic. Many have been working on and designing the Temple over the times and leaving the marks of different few architectural styles; the walls and the ceiling decorated in the high Victorian Gothic. Although in the building Norman and Romanesque architecture exists side by side with Gothic: “there is no antipathy between round and the pointed arch” The chapel has been divided into two parts; the Round Church and the Chancel.

Accused of perfection the whole church is made entirely of cream coloured Caen stones. The notable feature makes an east window which depicts some of the characters associated with the building over the centuries.

B

The Round

The original round plan now famed for that circular nave, was modelled after the church in Jerusalem and had a shallow chancel. West doorway is under round-headed arch. Indoors the circle contains of six pillars, ...

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...y of buildings of different ages and different times, accommodating chambers and solicitors, also contains some notable legal institutions. It makes a home for music, where concerts, chorals and similar events had and still take place.

Nowadays the Church stands still as the main chapel that functions as an Anglican Parish Church with regular services. The head of the church has a title of “The Master of The Temple” after the head of order of the Knight Templar.

In recent years the place has become a must-see for Brown’s readers, as in his book “The Da Vinci Code” the key scene was set there.

Works Cited

1. Sanders Ann, The Art and Architecture of London, An illustrated guide, 2nd edition, Phaidon Press Limited, 1998. Page. 27

2. Jones Edward, Woodward Christopher, The Guide to the architecture of London,

3. The Temple Church website: www.thetemplechurch.com