Round Churches - are they Knight Templar Churches?
Rosslyn Chapel is not a round church but that has not stopped some claiming that it has a Knight Templar connection. That too will be the subject of an investigation for the Rosslyn Templars.
There are many authors who suggest that round churches was a design favoured exclusively by the Order of the Knights Templar. They did not exclude other designs and did build and adapt churches that were not round. However, it continues to be said that round churches was one of the 'hall marks' of the Order. Below is a ground plan of the 'New' Temple in London. The Order moved from the 'Old' Temple (founded c.1128) to the New Temple in 1184. This was the Head House of the Order in England and through it passed all the revenues from the other properties owned by the Order.
In 1308 there were twelve brethren in addition to the Master and the Preceptor. Thirteen chaplains and four clerks made up the rest of the official compliment. From this we can deduce that there were not a huge number of Knights Templar in Engalnd, and fewer in Scotland. The Headquarters in England had a maximum of 14 Knights, that is fighting men, as the remainder, 17 in total, were clerks and chaplains. The other properties in England were not as large and would not have housed as many men.
From the ground plan it can be seen that the Knights did indeed build a circular Nave and Aisle for their new church.
By 1312 the property had been transferred to the Knights of St John (the Knights Hospitaller).
Ground plan of the New Temple Church, London.
The suggestion, above, that the Order of the Knights Templar were the only Order, or body, to use the round design for their churches appears to be contradicted by the image below. Little Maplestead, Essex, was never a property owned by the Order of the Knights Templar. It was founded sometime before 1184 by the Knights Hospitallers and was owned by them until 1540 when it was confiscated during the 'Dissolution of the Monasteries' under Henry VIII (1509 - 1547, b. 1491).
Little Maplestead Church, Essex.
Compare this church with the groundplan of the New Temple Church, London (above), and one can easily see that the designs are virtually the same.
This round church which was never owned by the Knights Templar creates a major problem for the suggestion that all round churches were exclusively designed and used by the Order.
Orphir Church, Orkney
Scotland's old round church is to be found in the Parish of Orphir. Built in the 12th century it is dedicated to St Nicholas. To go to Orkney Net's website for a little more information on Orphir Church please click on the link below.
http://www.orknet.co.uk/tourism/windex.htm
There is more information about Orphir Church can be found by clicking on the following link. http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/or-chrch.htm