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Resting Place of the Knight's Templar

Temple Church, Inner Temple, Fleet Street, EC4Y

After escaping from the police at Biggin Hill, they speed towards Fleet Street in Teabing’s limousine in search of a knight’s tomb they believe to contain the Holy Grail. They think the crypt is located in Temple Church, in the grounds of the Inner Temple – one of London’s great medieval Inns of Court. Sandwiched between the Thames and Fleet Street, the Inner Temple’s church and gardens are open for visitors.

Built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar - a congregation of warrior priests who were sworn to protect pilgrims on their way to and from Jerusalem – the building is unusual for its original round layout, rather than the customary cross (the chancel was added later). It was built in the image of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem – the destination of pilgrims in the Holy Land. The novel suggests that crusaders discovered evidence of descendents of Jesus after they conquered Jerusalem in 1099, setting up the Knights Templar to guard the secret.

On the floor of the round part of the church lie the effigies of ten knights, which are heroes erroneously believe to be tombs. They are interrupted at gunpoint by the albino Silas, but when Langdon threatens to throw the keystone to the ground – Rémy, Teabing’s butler, reveals himself, also toting a pistol...

Venue: Temple Church
Address: Inner Temple, Fleet Street, EC4Y
Phone: 020 7353 3470
Time: Generally open Wednesday to Sunday (phone ahead to confirm. Every Friday at 13:00 the Master of the Temple gives a free talk on the Da Vinci Code
Nearest Station: Temple Tube

Temple Church - Information