It is on the site of a previous, round church of the Knights Templar, which they built on land granted to them in the second quarter of the 12th century by Robert of Gloucester.

[7] The 15th century candelabrum, with its central statue of the Virgin Mary also survived, albeit a little dented, and now hangs in the Berkeley Chapel of Bristol Cathedral.

[8] Temple Church also contained a peal of 8 bells, which were moved to the Cathedral's north-west tower after the bombing.

[11] The archway and gates, which date from the mid 19th century and made from Portland stone and wrought iron in a Gothic Revival style, are listed separately from the church as Grade II.

[12] From 2021 to 2023 the site received significant restoration work by English Heritage in a conservation project costing about £1 million.

This chancel was replaced with a rectangular one, with a chapel added to its north side in Decorated style, in the late 13th or early 14th century.

[3] Cloth weaving was the staple industry of Bristol in the late Middle Ages, and its centre was in Temple parish.

The lean is popularly attributed to the foundations of the tower being built on top of wool-sacks but is most likely due to the soft alluvial clay underneath being compressed.

From 29 October to 21 November 2015,[14] the church hosted Sanctum, a performance event created by the American installation artist Theaster Gates together with the art group Situations, as part of Bristol 2015 European Green Capital.

[14] The site participated in the 2023 Bristol Light Festival, celebrating its opening on 3 February following a restoration project.