- Temple Church
- On the south-east side of Inner Temple Lane, in Farringdon Ward Without (P.O. Directory).The old Church of the Knights Templars erected at their new house in Fleet Street 1185, the choir being completed 1240 (M. Paris, ed. 1640, p.526).The Round Church is a beautiful specimen of the Norman architecture of the period and is one of the famous round churches of the Templars, while the choir is Early English of somewhat later date.It seems to have been dedicated to St. Mary, 1235 (Cal. Ch. Rolls I. 210).Arnold in his list of churches mentions " St. James in the Temple " (p.76), but there is no other reference to it under this name.Stow speaks of "S. Petronilla in the Temple."There was a chapel of St. Thomas near the hall, 1334-8 (Cal. P. Rolls, Ed. III. 1334-8, p.314).A chapel of St. Ann in the 17th century. Probably erected soon after the choir was finished (Inner Temple Records).The church serves both the Inner and Middle Temples; north side being set apart for the use of the Middle Temple, the south for the Inner Temple.In 1608 it was in grave disrepair, and considerable sums were expended in repairs during the reign of Jas. I. (I. T. Rec. II.).It escaped destruction in 1666 and in subsequent fires 1677 and 1678.Shops against the Church not finally removed until 1819 (ib.).Right of presentation preserved to the Crown by charter of James I. 1608.The chapel of St. Ann was on the south side of and adjoining the round church, and seems to have been erected about the same time as the oblong church.The remains, which were considerable, were pulled to the ground in 1825, and seven large slabs cover the ruins of the foundations, columns, arches, etc. Steps led down into the Chapel from the Church, and a door from the Chapel communicated with the Cloisters, Fratery, etc. (Baylis, 53-4, and I. T. Records, III. xlix.).The entrance porch at the west door of the church formed one of the bays of the old cloisters.Church restored 1839-42.
A Dictionary of London. Henry A Harben. 1918.
