St Olave's Church — Attraction in England

Within St Mary's Abbey walls, which was ruined in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, is St Olave's Church. It is dedicated to St Olaf, patron saint of Norway. It is believed to have the earliest date (1055) for a church dedication to St Olaf (Olav in Norwegian) anywhere in the world. The current church has had substantial changes over the centuries, with the first major rebuild in the 15th Century and the church reflects this character, although it did undergo major renovation in the 1880s. A statue of St Olave can be seen on the exterior over the main door. There is a bell tower with 6 bells. The church has a musical tradition and has a choir and organ, and holds concerts throughout the year. The denomination of the church is Church of England.

It is a peaceful place to visit, within the Museum Gardens, and although small and dark inside, contains many old features that history buffs will appreciate. The cemetery outside is locked, no doubt due to risk of vandalism, but there are also flagstones in the church which mark the resting places of long...

An atmospheric little church with a history going back to Saxon times. It's dedicated to King Olaf, a Viking warrior who converted to Christianity and became the patron saint of Norway. I reached it through an archway at the back of the Museum Gardens, behind the ruined abbey. The quiet, dimly lit interior offered a welcome respite from the bustle of the city centre. The church has beautiful stained glass, some of it medieval. Worth spending...

Visited to see the stained glass windows by Knowles, who had a shop in Stonegate where a remnant can still be seen. My wife has a family connection. There was an organ practice going on during our visit which added to the ancient church atmosphere, mist enjoyable. Otherwise, this is quiet place of reflection, an active church. Definitely not a tourist destination. And lighting is much needed, we visited late on a sunny afternoon but it...