Deep in the heart of London’s inner temple is a church that directly connects with Jerusalem’s holy places.

Temple church’s 12th century Romanesque nave is circular as is Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre and it was built by the once powerful Knights Templars who protected pilgrims’ routes to Palestine. Several of these lie entombed on the floor of the church.

The original entrance to the church is a gorgeously elaborate arch.

Subsequently, the Templars were suppressed, their immense power and wealth a threat to the Pope, but the St John’s Hospitalliers took their place, an order which exists to this very day. The church was expanded in the thirteenth century with a three aisled apse in gothic style.

Much later Wren added the reredos.

Temple church has a great musical tradition and the splendid organ has been well-restored.

I last visited this arcane building over ten years ago with some friends from Italy and it was an immense pleasure to step back again into one of London’s most atmospheric buildings. I found the church beautifully kept with the added bonus of access to the triforium which gave one spectacular insights into the petrified forest of columns, several of which are purbeck marble.

Incidentally, Temple church is one of only four mediaeval round churches in England. The others are St John at Little Maplestead, Holy Sepulchre in Northampton and Cambridge’s Holy Sepulchre.

Round churches came back in fashion in renaissance and neo-classical times and, indeed, Bagni di Lucca’s Demidoff temple is an example. England, too, has some 18th century round churches, one of the finest of which is St Chad in Shrewsbury. However, nothing can beat the extraordinarily intense spirituality of a mediaeval round church such as London’s own Temple.