St Michael’s church at Garway, Herefordshire is one of the few remaining Templar churches in England. The Templars were one of the most famous military orders, their full name being The Poor Fellow-soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon. All members swore an oath of poverty and gave their lands to the Order. Officially sanctioned by the Church around 1129 and wearing the distinctive Red Cross on their tunics they fought in the Crusades, protecting pilgrims making the dangerous journey to Jerusalem. They had many non-combative members who built castles along the route and the Templars started rudimentary banks to help the travelers. This further increased the wealth of the Order, until it became so great as to catch the eyes of Western Kings.
During the twelfth century two thousand acres around Garway in Hereford were given to The Templars. This was used to build a circular church, the design based on their Temple in Jerusalem. The remains of the circular foundations are visible on the North side of the current church.
Unusually the tower and the nave face in different directions. They were only joined together by a passage away around 300 years ago. The tower is seventy metres high and would have been used for protection. The base of the tower is still referred to as ‘The Prison’ locally and it is easy to imagine it having also been used for that purpose.
A Norman arch created from an unusual mixture of designs divides the nave from the chancel. Much of the church is now whitewashed, though there are patches of the original colours showing in places.
The unusual capitals on the western side of the Norman arch.
The simple altar is a mixture of modern legs and medieval altar stone. The chapel to the south of the altar dates from around 1210, though it was rebuilt in part by the Tudors. It has corbels carved with the head of a Grand Master and a 14th century piscina. Indeed there is mich to recommend a visit to Garway church as it is overflowing with historical interest. If you have a chance to visit it is recommended
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