Next to a farmyard on the Lincoln Heath stands a tower of the Knights Templar church which was built here in the early 13th century amid their extensive estates.

The church had a circular nave and a chancel flanked by two towers.

The photo shows the N and E faces of the surviving S tower.

Frank Robinson, 2009

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire states :-

"On Temple Bruer farm are the remains of an extensive establishment, formerly a preceptory belonging to the Knights Ternplars, founded by Lady de Caux before 1174; a massive square tower and a few vaults still remain:

the tower is Early English, and was erected probably about the middle of the 13th century; it is of three storeys and 51 feet in height, with a newel staircase at the north-west angle leading to the upper chambers and the roof; the basement, used as a chapel, is vaulted and groined and surrounded by an arcading, with a piscina on the south side:

the bases of the eight pillars of the circular church still exist at some depth below the soil, a little to the west of the tower, and were laid bare in 1833. by Dr. Oliver:

the diameter of the church was 52 feet, and it was united by some other structure to the remaining tower; the whole ground in the vicinity abounds with evidences of the extent of the original buildings, and there is also a remarkably fine well, 9 feet in diameter, and never known to be dry:

stone coffins and other remains have at various times been exhumed"

DB 1 July 2019

Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1919 states :-

"In 1541, King Henry VIII. when on his way towards the north, for the purpose of holding a conference with his nephew, the young King of Scotland, paid a visit here to Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, who had held the Commandery buildings since the suppression of the House in 1538" 

DB 1 July 2019

Local signage states :-

"The function of the first floor chamber is not certain, but it may have served as a private devotional space.

Although its ceiling is now destroyed the supporting stone corbels in the corners of the room and the arched ribs on each wall show that it was vaulted in the same way as this lower room. 

The newel stairway continued up to a third storey, which was largely rebuilt in the early 20th century.

The present roof structure dates from that time, although the roof covering has since been renewed.

The original roof was constructed within stone battlements, a remnant of which can still be seen on the SW external corner of the tower. 

DB 1 July 2019

Local signage states :-

This ground floor chamber most probably served as a side chapel or chapter house.

The remains of sedilia (seats for priests) can be seen below the blind arcading (the series of arches and column remains along the south and west walls).

The stone grave cover in the form of a knight was found when the petrol pump in the corner of the car park was installed.

DB 1 July 2019

Modern steps leading to the tower entrance.

DB 1 July 2019

Notice on the entrance door.

DB 1 July 2019

Tower of the Knights Templar church is now set amongst the buildings of Temple Farm.

DB 16 July 2019

"Farmhouse. C17, late C18, early C19, with C20 alterations and additions ...

This house is built on the site of one of the domestic ranges of the Knight's Templar's Preceptory, and a small fragment of reused medieval tracery survives in an upper window in the north gable"

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1261359 

DB 2020

Artwork situated on Ermine Street (High Dike), parish boundary between Temple Bruer and Welbourn, at National Grid Reference SK 99348 54331.

"Ermine Street is a major Roman road in England that ran from London (Londinium) to Lincoln (Lindum Colonia) and York (Eboracum)"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ermine_Street 

DB 2020

School room attached to St John's Church now in use as the Church Hall.

Kelly's Directory 1905 states "Public Elementary School (mixed), built in 1873, for 45 children; average attendance, 19; Miss Florence Annie Hogarth, mistress".

DB 26 August 2018

St John's stands at an isolated position by a minor road junction on the heath between Lincoln and Sleaford.

It was built at a time when there were many farm labourers living within the area.

June 2015

St John's church was built by James Fowler of Louth in 1874.

It is rock-faced with lancet (Early English) windows.

June 2015

The wooden bell turret and spire add some interest to a plain building.

The building to the left is the former school, now used as a church hall.

June 2015

Reredos behind the altar erected in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

DB 28 August 2022

Crucifixion depicted in the central lancet of the east window. Stained glass a memorial to Lady Florence Chaplin who died in childbirth 1881.

DB 26 August 2018

"In memory of the Lady Florence Chaplin who died on the day of the Consecration of this Church 10. Oct. 1881"

"THE ABOVE MEMORIAL PLATE IS CONCERNED WITH THE EAST CENTRAL STAINED GLASS WINDOW AND WAS REMOVED FROM THE BASE OF THE WINDOW WHEN THE REREDOS WAS ERECTED" 

Henry Chaplin of Blankney Hall was owner of all the land in Temple Bruer and St John's Church was erected in 1873 at his expense "In 1876 Chaplin married Lady Florence, daughter of George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland, who had survived the Wigan rail crash of 1873. They had one son, Eric, and two daughters, Edith and Florence. Lady Florence died in childbirth in 1881, giving birth to her youngest daughter, Florence"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Chaplin,_1st_Viscount_Chaplin 

DB 28 August 2022

C19 font.

DB 26 August 2018

Looking east towards the altar and east window.

Kelly's Directory 1905 states "The church of St. John the Baptist is a small edifice of stone in the Early English style, from designs by Mr. James Fowler, architect, of Louth, erected in 1873, at the cost of the Right Hon. H. Chaplin P.C., M.P. and consists of chancel, nave, porch, vestry and a wooden bell-cote with spirelet, containing one bell" 

DB 28 August 2022

Looking west towards the font.

DB 28 August 2022

Maker's plate reads "Cousans Sons & Co. City Organ Works Lincoln"

DB 28 August 2022

C19 pulpit.

DB 28 August 2022

Reading desk built into the chancel step.

DB 28 August 2022

THE REREDOS WAS ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF TEMPLE BRUER PARISH TO COMMEMORATE THE CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II 1953"

DB 28 August 2022

A closer view of the sanctuary.

DB 28 August 2022

War memorial in St John's churchyard.

Made by William Henry Maxey and son of Eastgate, Sleaford and Unveiled 31 July 1920.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/81471 

DB 2020