---
title: "St Olave, City of London"
description: "Located in City of London, Greater London. Built 15th century (c.1450) incorporating late 13th-century crypt; tower upper stage 1731–32; restored 1951–54 after Blitz damage. Diocese of London. Grade I. Perpendicular Gothic style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","Greater London","City of London","Grade I","Perpendicular Gothic","Samuel Pepys"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/st-olave-city-london"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T01:29:49.417Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-07T20:32:44.082Z"
location: "City of London, Greater London"
country: "England"
county: "Greater London"
town: "City of London"
address: "Hart Street, City of London, Greater London, EC3R 7NB"
postcode: "EC3R 7NB"
built: "15th century (c.1450) incorporating late 13th-century crypt; tower upper stage 1731–32; restored 1951–54 after Blitz damage"
architect: "J. Widdows (tower upper stage, 1731–32, attributed)"
denomination: "Church of England"
dedications: ["Olave"]
diocese: "London"
grade: "I"
style: "Perpendicular Gothic"
materials: "Squared rubble, much repaired; Portland stone to clerestory and north aisle; yellow brick tower stage; octagonal timber lantern with copper roof"
website: "http://www.sanctuaryinthecity.net/"
openingHours: "The church is open every weekday from 9am to 5pm, except in the weeks immediately after Christmas and Easter, and during the month of August."
parish: "St Olave Hart Street"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1064676"
gridReference: "TQ 333 808"
---

# St Olave, City of London

St Olave Hart Street is a Grade I City church on the corner of Hart Street and Seething Lane, the ward church of Tower Ward, in the Diocese of London.

## Overview

Historic England lists a fifteenth-century church incorporating a late-thirteenth-century crypt, with a nearly square body, north and south aisles of three bays, clerestory, westward nave extension and south-west tower. The south-east vestry was added in 1661. The exterior is squared rubble, much repaired; the clerestory and north aisle are now Portland stone. The tower’s upper stage of yellow brick dates from 1731–32, attributed to J. Widdows, with an octagonal timber lantern and domed copper roof. The church is dedicated to Olaf II of Norway and is among the few medieval City churches to survive the Great Fire of 1666. Samuel Pepys worshipped here and is buried in the nave beside his wife Elisabeth. Bombed in 1941, it was restored and rededicated in 1954 in the presence of King Haakon VII of Norway, who had worshipped here in exile. Charles Dickens called the 1658 churchyard gateway, carved with skulls, “Saint Ghastly Grim”. Fittings include a late-seventeenth-century pulpit and the monument to Elisabeth Pepys. The church is open on weekdays from 9am to 5pm except after Christmas and Easter and in August.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1064676](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1064676)
- [Wikipedia: St Olave's Church, Hart Street](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Olave%27s_Church,_Hart_Street)
- [St Olave Hart Street](http://www.sanctuaryinthecity.net/)