Although the Parish of Temple is small, both in area and population, it has one of the more romantic histories of the Cornish parishes. The church, dedicated to St. Catherine, was founded by the Knights Templar in the Twelfth century and is located on the remote moorland of Bodmin Moor. The myths and legends surrounding that warrior / religious order have ensured that Temple will always be a place of wonder.

After the church lost the privilege of being able to perform Baptisms, Marriages and Burials without reference to any authority but the Pope in 1752, it rapidly fell into decline and a ruin. It was no longer the ‘Gretna Green’ of Cornwall (& probably England). Rebuilt in 1882, the churchyard contains only thirty four headstones, all dated after the restoration.

The survey by CIP, found 133 people commemorated in the parish..