---
title: "St Peter & St Paul, Olney"
description: "Located in Olney, Buckinghamshire. Built Early C14; south aisle rebuilt 1831; restored by Sir Gilbert Scott c.1874-76. Diocese of Oxford. Grade I. Decorated Gothic; Northamptonshire broach spire style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","Buckinghamshire","Olney","Grade I","Decorated Gothic","Sir Gilbert Scott","John Newton"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/st-peter-st-paul-olney"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T02:26:18.890Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-08T15:59:36.900Z"
location: "Olney, Buckinghamshire"
country: "England"
county: "Buckinghamshire"
town: "Olney"
address: "Church Street, Olney, Buckinghamshire, MK46 4AD"
postcode: "MK46 4AD"
built: "Early C14; south aisle rebuilt 1831; restored by Sir Gilbert Scott c.1874-76"
architect: "Sir Gilbert Scott (restoration c.1874-76)"
denomination: "Church of England"
dedications: ["Peter","Paul"]
diocese: "Oxford"
grade: "I"
style: "Decorated Gothic; Northamptonshire broach spire"
materials: "Ashlar with tiled roofs"
website: "https://olneyparish.org/"
openingHours: "Sorry, there are no regular opening times for this church."
parish: "Olney"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1125308"
gridReference: "SP 889 509"
accessNotes: "Accessible toilets nearby. Level access to the main areas"
---

# St Peter and St Paul, Olney

St Peter and St Paul is the Grade I parish church of Olney, standing on Church Street beside the River Great Ouse in the Diocese of Oxford. Its late fourteenth-century broach spire dominates the southern approach to the town.

## Overview

Historic England describes an early fourteenth-century church with later additions, in ashlar with tiled roofs: nave with two aisles, chancel, and a tall three-stage west tower surmounted by a Northamptonshire-style broach spire with lucarnes. In 1807 the clerestory was removed, part of the north aisle rebuilt and the north porch added; the south aisle was rebuilt in 1831. Sir Gilbert Scott carried out an extensive restoration about 1874-76. The interior retains fine fourteenth-century five-bay arcades on quatrefoil columns. The chancel has a wide Easter Sepulchre, triple sedilia and a five-light east window restored by Scott.

From 1764 to 1780 John Newton, former slave-ship captain and author of Amazing Grace, was curate-in-charge. He collaborated here with the poet William Cowper on the Olney Hymns (1779). Newton's remains and those of his wife Mary were re-interred in the south-east churchyard in 1893 from St Mary Woolnoth. The parish records a spire of 185 feet and notes the annual Shrove Tuesday pancake race, which finishes at the church.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1125308](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1125308)
- [St Peter and St Paul, Olney](https://olneyparish.org/building/)