St Olave's Church is situated within the boundary walls of the precinct of St Mary's Abbey. It was founded in the late Saxon period, sometime before 1055, by Siward, Earl of Northumberland. It is dedicated to Olav (Olaf), patron saint of Norway, who died in 1030, and Siward's new church in York is the first in the world dedicated to the saint.
The church was extensively rebuilt in the 1500s, and there were several other periods of repairs and changes over the centuries, but the church is still largely that created in the 1500s.
The Marygate entrance to the Museum Gardens passes beside this church tower, and adds considerably to the attraction of that entrance to the gardens.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I did wonder if the rebuild in the 1500s involved the reuse of stone from nearby St Mary's Abbey which was closed around 1539, but have so far not found any evidence for that.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I did wonder if the rebuild in the 1500s involved the reuse of stone from nearby St Mary's Abbey which was closed around 1539, but have so far not found any evidence for that.
Ian
Thank you Pat, it was really nice to be out on a sunny day!
Ian
Thank you Vesna - it is an interesting old church.
Ian