Why round churches matter: exploring the sacred architecture of the knights templar
The sacred blueprint: Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre and the templar vow
Imagine a medieval landscape dotted with familiar spires and cross-shaped churches. Now, picture a structure that breaks this mold entirely: a building of powerful, curved stone walls, forming a perfect circle. This is the round church, an architectural marvel that stands as a testament to one of history’s most legendary orders, the Knights Templar. To understand why these circular sanctuaries were built, we must journey eastward, to the very heart of Christendom: Jerusalem.
The story of the round church begins not in the fields of France or the forests of England, but at the site of Christ’s death and resurrection. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, a place of immense spiritual gravity, was the ultimate destination for every pilgrim and the focal point of the Crusades. At its core lies the Anastasis Rotunda, a grand circular hall built directly over the tomb of Jesus. For the first Knights Templar, whose sacred mission was to protect Christian pilgrims on their perilous journey to this holy site, the Rotunda was more than just architecture. It was the physical embodiment of their purpose, the center of their spiritual world.
Knights who traveled to the Holy Land would have spent countless hours within its hallowed, circular walls. They prayed there, took their vows there, and found their resolve strengthened by its unique form. Unlike the long, linear naves of Western European churches that guided the faithful towards the altar, the Rotunda’s design focused all attention inward, to the tomb at its center. The circle, a universal symbol of eternity, divinity, and unity, perfectly encapsulated the mystery of the resurrection. It had no beginning and no end, representing God’s infinite nature and the promise of eternal life that lay at the core of their faith.
When these battle-hardened knights returned to Europe, they carried this architectural memory with them. It was an image seared into their minds, a blueprint for devotion that they sought to replicate across their expanding network of preceptories. To build a round church in their homelands was to build a tangible link to Jerusalem. It was a bold declaration of their purpose and a constant, physical reminder of the sacred ground they were sworn to defend. Each curved stone was a piece of the Holy Land brought home, a way to recreate the spiritual experience of the Holy Sepulchre for those who could not make the journey themselves.
Echoes of Jerusalem: the templar architectural signature in Europe
The decision by the Knights Templar to build round churches across Europe was a deliberate and deeply symbolic act. These structures became their architectural signature, instantly recognizable and steeped in meaning. While many monastic orders followed established building conventions, the Templars chose a design that broadcast their unique identity as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon.
The most famous and beautifully preserved example is the Temple Church in London. Founded in the late 12th century, it served as the Templar headquarters in England. Stepping into its original ‘Round’ section feels like stepping back in time. The circle of dark Purbeck marble pillars draws the eye upward, creating a sense of both intimacy and grandeur. Here, new knights were initiated into the Order through secret ceremonies, their vows echoing in the circular space. The design was not just for worship; it was a theater for the sacred rituals that bound the brotherhood together. Lying on the floor are the stone effigies of nine knights, a permanent, silent garrison guarding this sacred space.
The symbolism of these churches was multi-layered. Primarily, they were models of the Holy Sepulchre, serving as a powerful tool for recruitment and fundraising. They allowed the order to say, “This is what we protect. This is a taste of the holiest place on Earth.” For a medieval Christian, to worship in a Templar round church was the next best thing to making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem itself. But the circle also had other connotations. It represented the celestial sphere and the eternal kingdom of heaven, a perfect form for a house of God.
Furthermore, we cannot separate the Templars’ architecture from their military function. While primarily places of worship, their preceptories were also administrative centers, treasuries, and fortified strongholds. The circular design, reminiscent of a castle’s keep, offered defensive advantages. With no corners to provide cover for attackers and offering a 360-degree field of view from the center, the design had a martial practicality that suited the warrior-monks perfectly. The thick stone walls and imposing structure of a round church projected an image of unshakable strength, both spiritual and military. It was a fortress for God, a building that was simultaneously a sanctuary for prayer and a bastion against the forces of darkness.
Beyond the templars: the enduring legacy of round churches
When the Knights Templar were brutally suppressed in the early 14th century, their vast network of properties was seized. Their churches, the stone-and-mortar symbols of their power, met various fates. Some were handed over to their rivals, the Knights Hospitaller, while others were absorbed by local dioceses or fell into disrepair. Yet, despite the order’s downfall, the architectural legacy of the round church endured, a ghostly reminder of the white-mantled knights.
The Temple Church in London survived by being leased to lawyers, a twist of fate that preserved it for posterity. In Cambridge, the aptly named “Round Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” though not definitively built by the Templars, was constructed around 1130 by a fraternity inspired by the Holy Sepulchre, showcasing the widespread influence of the Jerusalem blueprint. Its simple, robust form continues to captivate visitors and stands as one of the city’s oldest and most unique buildings.
The influence spread far and wide. In Portugal, the stunning Charola of the Convent of Christ in Tomar, an original 12th-century Templar oratory, is a magnificent sixteen-sided structure, octagonal on the inside. It functioned as a private church for the knights, designed to allow them to attend mass on horseback. This incredible fusion of military and spiritual purpose is a powerful insight into the Templar mindset. Elsewhere, particularly in Scandinavia, round churches appear with fortified upper levels that could serve as defensive positions or storage, demonstrating how the core concept was adapted to local needs and threats.
So why do these structures still matter today? They matter because they are rare architectural survivors that tell a complex story. They are not just places of worship; they are historical documents carved in stone. They speak of the Crusades, of the intense religious fervor that drove men thousands of miles from home, and of the unique order that blended the roles of monk and soldier. Their circular walls challenge our modern perceptions of what a church should look like, forcing us to consider a time when symbolism was paramount and a building’s shape could connect a small English village directly to the heart of the Holy Land.
To visit a round church today is to engage with the legend of the Knights Templar on an immersive level. You can trace the curve of the walls, stand in the center where new recruits took their solemn oaths, and feel the weight of centuries of history. In a world of straight lines and sharp corners, the eternal circle of the Templar church remains a powerful and mysterious echo of a bygone age, a true medieval marvel that continues to unveil the legend in every stone.