London England Temple

The London England Temple (formerly the London Temple) is the 12th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and is located in Newchapel, Surrey, England.[1] Despite its name, it is not located within London or Greater London.

London England Temple
Number 12
Dedicated 7 September 1958 (7 September 1958) by
David O. McKay
Site 32 acres (12.9 hectares)
Floor area 42,775 sq ft (3,974 m2)
Height 190 ft (58 m)
Preceded by Hamilton New Zealand Temple
Followed by Oakland California Temple
Official website • News & images

The temple serves church members in south Wales, the Channel Islands, southern parts of England, the Limerick District of Ireland, and Jordan.[2]

History

The site of the original 34,000 square foot building, located 25 miles south of London, was selected in 1952 by David O. McKay and Stayner Richards.[3] Building of the temple began on 27 August 1955, and the temple was dedicated on 7 September 1958. Over 76,000 people toured the building during the public open house before it was dedicated.[4] It was the first LDS temple to be built in the United Kingdom. Its construction was part of a growth in the number of temples, led by David O. McKay, who performed the dedication.[3]

After thirty-two years, the temple was closed for remodeling and refurbishing. An additional 8,500 square feet (790 m2) were added, as well as a fourth floor. In October 1992, Gordon B. Hinckley rededicated the London England Temple, after a two-week public open house. A second British temple was built in 1998 in Chorley, Lancashire.

A statue of the angel Moroni was placed atop the temple at the conclusion of the Jubilee Celebration. Included in the Jubilee project was the restoring the Manor House and the visitors center, adding new mission offices to the temple site and renovating the accommodation center for temple patrons.[5]

In 2020, like all the church's other temples, the London England Temple was closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[6]

Description

The temple has a total of 42,775 square feet (3,974 m2), four ordinance rooms, and seven sealing rooms.[7] It is faced with white Portland limestone with a green copper spire. Like other LDS Church temples, a temple recommend is required for church members to enter. Surrounding the temple is a 40-room mansion, named the Manor House, 10 acres of formal grounds, and a large pond.[8]

See also

References
  1. Mays, Kenneth. "Picturing history: London England Temple", Deseret News, 16 October 2013. Retrieved on 17 March 2020.
  2. "London England Temple". Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  3. Prescott, Marianne Holman. "Why the Angel Moroni statue stopped traffic and other interesting facts about the London temple on its 60th anniversary", Church News, 9 August 2019. Retrieved on 17 March 2020.
  4. "London's Mormon Temple", TIME, 15 September 1958, archived from the original on 10 May 2007, retrieved 27 July 2007, The crowds of visitors (76,324 by head count)
  5. Swinton, Heidi (19 December 2008). "Angel Moroni takes flight to London Temple". Church News. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  6. Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "All Latter-day Saint temples to close due to coronavirus", The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 March 2020. Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
  7. Avant, Gerry, ed. (2006). Deseret Morning News 2007 Church Almanac. Salt Lake City: Deseret Morning News.
  8. Phillips, Jamie. "Surrey's 17 most iconic buildings including Guildford Cathedral and the Mormon temple in Newchapel", Surrey Advertiser, 2O October 2019. Retrieved on 17 March 2020.
  • View of temple from front gate
  • Side view of temple
  • Back view of temple
  • Angel Moroni statue on spire
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