St Olave's Church, Hart Street image

St Olave's Church, Hart Street

Tourist attraction Historical landmark Place of worship Anglican church

12th-century CofE church housing the tomb of Samuel Pepys and offering regular lunchtime recitals. People often mention church, London, Great, history, Pepys, city,


Address

8 Hart St, London EC3R 7NA, United Kingdom

Website

www.saintolave.com

Contact

+44 20 7488 4318

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (141 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
  • Monday: 10:30 am to 5 pm
  • Tuesday: 10:30 am to 5 pm
  • Wednesday: 10:30 am to 5 pm
  • Thursday: 10:30 am to 5 pm
  • Friday: Closed

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: church (32) London (9) Great (6) history (6) Pepys (6) city (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Fred S. 5 years ago on Google
    St Olaves is one of the few examples of mediaeval churches that existed before the Great Fire of London in 1666, the present building was built around 1450, with churches having been on the site from. The fire was raging towards it and got to within 100 metres and then the wind changed direction! However, the second world war was not so kind and the building was badly damaged and was the restored in the 1950s to what it remains today. The church has a range of connections to nationalities and people. Wikipedia has a good history of the church, which identifies some notable patrons. Sir William Penn who helped save the church in 1666 by ordering his men to blow up the houses around the church to create a barrier from the Great Fire. Samuel Pepys: the famous diarist was a regular worshipper and called St Olaves as ‘our own church’. Both he and his wife are buried in the graveyard. Charles Dickens: is thought to have been inspired by the church and included it in ‘Uncommercial Traveller’ describing it as ‘St Ghastly Grim’. Norway: the church is dedicated to the patron saint of Norway, King Olaf II of Norway and it is said that the well in the crypt has some aspect of the saint in it! After the ‘blitz’ restoration was completed, in 1954, King Haakon VII of Norway presided over the rededication ceremony and laid a stone from Trondheim Cathedral in front of the sanctuary. America: ‘in the tower, there is a memorial with an American connection. It honours Monkhouse Davison and Abraham Newman, the grocers of Fenchurch Street who shipped crates of tea to Boston in late 1773. These crates were seized and thrown into the waters during the Boston Tea Party, one of the causes of the American War of Independence.’ It is a modest parish church in the centre of a global metropolis, ‘a sanctuary in the city’. Wonderfully, in such a densely populated area, there is a very well-maintained garden graveyard attached with benches and some very well looked after grassed areas and well-tended roses. If you liked this review, please 'Like' it!
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Frau M. 2 years ago on Google
    The Rector is a man of God. You feel it in his countenance. He is friendly, kind, and caring. Took a genuine interest in me. I am a church organist and he allowed me up to see the organ and play. He invited me back for a classical concert (Haydn & Schumann) which I gladly returned for. A peaceful feeling abides here. Beautiful stained glass windows. Small and quaint with a lot of history.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Patrick P. 4 years ago on Google
    What an interesting Church! Just down the street from our hotel we found this little gem! I walked by the Church several times before I noticed the three human skulls adorning the entrance into the courtyard! I went closer to get a better look and to my utter surprise I found that none other than Mother Goose was buried here! I did a double take and had to take some pictures to prove to myself that I wasn’t imagining it! If you’re ever in the area, check it out! 😃👍
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Liesel T. 5 years ago on Google
    We attended a Thursday lunch time recital here. It's a beautiful church. The concert was stunning with Mozart and Luille chamber music. The only reason for 4 and not 5 stars is the hard church benches, grin. Richard who keeps the newsletter list updated, came to greet us personally and made us feel very welcome. We arrived about 15 mins before starting time and we're able to sit in the front row. People brought their sandwiches to nibble on, definitely "lunchtime" for those working in the area. Great accoustics. We'll attend again.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mick P. 1 year ago on Google
    A small church that is a reminder to some of the major events in London. the plague, the Great Fire and the blitz.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Pamela H. 8 months ago on Google
    The churchyard's macabre skull carved entrance dates from 1658. Built in 1450 and was the third church on the site. It escaped the Great Fire of London but as badly damaged during WW II. It has some wonderful 17th century monuments that survived the bombing. There is a memorial to diarists Samuel Pepys who worshipped and buried in this church.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Judy W. 1 year ago on Google
    Having walked by this church many times when it was closed I was excited to discover it open. It is a treasure trove of history, quiet and peaceful inside with lots of helpful literature describing the interior. The church has strong links with Samuel Pepys and a memorial to his wife shows her looking towards the Navy Pew where Pepys would have sat. Also very interesting are the sword rests... each city church had one for when the Lord Mayor came to visit. St Olaves has four.... the extra ones are from now demolished or defunct churches. A delightful haven in the city!

  • 5/5 John W. 6 months ago on Google
    This church is a real 'gem', not only historically, but spiritually and musically. The Rector Arani Sen is a really gifted and inspiring pastor. If you want to get a glimpse into his 'charism' I would read his book ' Holy Spirit Radicals'. This book is a real contemporary Christian classic.

  • 5/5 Cansın A. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful church. Amazing lunch time recitals.

  • 5/5 DANIEL B. 1 year ago on Google
    Tiny, ancient church, surrounded by the bustling City. Crammed with great history, as well as a sense of timeless serenity. I came here because of Samuel Pepys and am so glad I did. (My kids also appreciated a sit down!)

  • 5/5 Ian B. 1 year ago on Google
    Tranquil historic church which survived the Great Fire of London. Lovely atmosphere. Wonderful setting for the Wednesday and Thursday weekly lunchtime concerts

  • 5/5 Steven T. 5 years ago on Google
    One of the few oasis places in London with numerous birds flying in and out of the small garden. Very nice place to visit and find some peace amongst the high rises of the city.

  • 5/5 Ken L. 1 year ago on Google
    We were staying at the Apex City of London hotel and our room had a balcony. When I looked over the rail I saw St Olave’s Church’s old cemetery.

  • 4/5 Caitlin J. 2 years ago on Google
    Really beautiful tiny church shoved in between new skyscrapers. It's nice to see a glimpse of an older London in these small buildings that funnily still exist between the new

  • 5/5 chris j. 2 years ago on Google
    Incredibly interesting church and church yard and amazing lunchtime concerts. Highly recommended. Please remember to make a donation

  • 5/5 Annapatrizia P. 2 years ago on Google
    This church belongs to the Church of England and is located in the city of London,in the corner of Hart Street and Seething Lane.This religious building is the smallest in the city and is very close to the Fenchurch Street train station.In its time, John Betjeman, described this place as: “Country church in the world of Seething Street.It is one of the few medieval churches that escaped the great fire in London in 1666. In the 13th century,this church was first recorded and was built century of stone,replacing the previous wooden construction. It was dedicated to the Norwegian patron saint,King Olaf II of Norway, who fights alongside the Anglo-Saxon King Ethelred The Unready,against the Danes.Today’s building,which church,there would be much to tell from the historical point of view,but as always, I don’t want to take away from the tourist,lover of ancient history,to make his other interesting discoveries of the place and ..... there are so many to see that are well guarded within these ancient walls. Add it, if you can , to your tour,it’s worth it.

  • 5/5 Ian _. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice bells to ring. Note the grape vine in stone work

  • 5/5 anne S. 2 years ago on Google
    A lovely historical church Richard and Michael always give warm welcome and are always willing to answer my questions about the church etc.

  • 4/5 Richard B. 2 years ago on Google
    Lovely old church that has periodic music recitals at lunchtimes on certain days.

  • 5/5 Alec 2 years ago on Google
    What a wonderful church with so much history - plague pit , Pepys and more


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