Tour of the Knights Templar Church

HISTORICAL GARWAY

The earliest record of a monastery in Garway is 615 AD, but it was with the arrival of the Knights Templar in 1180 that the history of the church becomes clearer. The first stone built Church on the site of the present church was established around 1180 A.D. by the Knights Templar, when Henry 11 granted them 2,000 acres of land.

It was built with a circular nave (inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem) and the capped foundations of which were found in 1927 can still be seen on the north side of the church. There is a host of medieval treasures to be discovered, from ancient coffin lids still in situ, intriguing carvings both inside and on external walls. There is a large “money chest” hewn from one single tree, which is secured with three locks!

The Church Tower was built separately from the Church around 1200 A.D, and was used as a refuge. It linked up to the nave in the 15th century. The Knights Templar were dissolved by the King of France and the Pope during the period 1307 to 1314 and their land at Garway was passed to the Knights Hospitaller. A guided tour will reveal far more…

All tours are available from April – September.