St. Olave Southwark

St. Olave Southwork Church

Is situate on the N. side of St. Olaves, (alias Tooley) str. a little distant Ed from the S. end of London bridge, in the County of Surrey.

II. It has that Denomination in Memory of St. Olave; as to its first Foundation, I find it not accounted for: But by a Deed granted by John Earl Warren to Nicholas, Abbot of St. Austins in Canterbury, of Messuages near this Church, it appears to have been founded at least 426 years ago. It was repaired at the cost and charge of the Parishioners, Anno 1617, and beautified in 1675, having escaped the furious Flames in 1666. …

VIII. It is a Rectory in the Gift of the Queen; the present Incumbent is the Reverend Dr. Hastlewood. Value upward of 300 l. per Annum; and in the Queen's Book it is rated 8 l. 4 s. 9 d. Lecturer is Mr. Fran. Brown. Prayers are Wednesdays, Fridays, and Holidays at 11, and Saturdays at 3.

IX. The Vestry is Select, comprizing 36 Inhabitants, with the Rector.

The Parish-Officers are, 5 Church-Wardens. 8 Overseers and Collectors.

Ward-Officers are, 9 Constables. 9 Scavengers. 2 Surveyors of the High-way.

And for the Precinct within the Freedom of the City, 1. Common Council. 1 Inqest. 1 Constable. 1 Scavenger.

X. The Parish extends on the E. side of the Borough from St. Olaves str. and Sd to Chequer alley, and the N. side of that Alley; and on the W. side of the Borough 2 Houses, viz Mr. Matthews a Victualler, and Mr. Ashmaids a Destiller, and Bell Alehouse, with the Yard. London bridge the S. end to the Drawbridge; all St. Olaves str. Horslydown, Shad Thames, Savorys dock head, and the N. side of Crucifix lane, and Barnaby str. Nd from thence; also part of the Maze pond; two Houses in Snow fields, and the Buildings betn that and the George Inn; containing in all about 200 Houses.

The Parish Church of St. OLAVES.

But now to come to St. Olaves Street: On the Bank of the River Thames is the Parish Church of St. Olave, a fair and metely large Church, but a far larger Parish, especially of Aliens or Strangers, and poor People. It was repaired and beautified at the Cost and Charge of the Parishioners, in the Year of our Lord 1617.

Churchwardens. Edward Candish, Benjamin Fry, William Hundman, Richard Clark,

This Church was again repaired, Anno 1697. And a Gallery made for the Boys belonging to the Free School founded in this Parish. In this Church is an Organ.] …

There is a very good Parsonage House situate in the Churchyard; on which much Cost hath lately been bestowed (to improve and adorn it) by the late Rector, the Reverend Dr. Hazelwood.

There is also a Free School belonging to this Parish, founded in Queen Elizabeth's Days, and She reckoned the Foundress: 'Tis amply endowed, situate in a Lane over against the Church. It hath divers Governors, chosen out of the Inhabitants of the Parish. Several Masters are appointed over the poor Children of the Parish which are here to be taught, without any Number assigned. A chief Master, who lately was the Rev. Mr. Joseph Dunstar, his Salary is 60l. per Ann. An Usher, who is allowed 30l. per Ann. A Writing Master, who is allowed 50l. per Ann. This Writing Master hath an Usher assistant to him, whom he pays himself. And, lastly, a Reading Master; to teach English: His Salary is 20l. per Ann. The School consists of three large School Rooms; and contains a great number of Youth, according to the Populousness and Largeness of the Parish.]

St. Olave's Southwark, is situated in Tooley street, near the south end of London bridge. Tho' the time when a church was first erected in this place cannot be discovered, yet it appears to be of considerable antiquity, since it is mentioned so early as the year 1281. However, part of the old church falling down in 1736, and the rest being in a ruinous condition, the parishioners applied to parliament for a power to rebuild it, which being granted, they were thereby enabled to raise the sum of 5000l. by a rate of 6d. in the pound, to be levied out of the rents of all lands and tenements within the parish; accordingly the church was taken down in the summer of the year 1737, and the present structure finished in 1739. …

It is a rectory in the gift of the Crown, and the Incumbent's profits are said to amount to about 400l. per annum.

St. Olave' Church, Tooley-Street,—a few doors on the L. from London-bridge.

St. Olave, Southwark, the church of, stands on the north side and near the west end of Tooley-street. It is mentioned as early as 1281, but on part of the old church falling in 1736, and the rest being in a ruinous and decayed condition, the parishioners applied to parliament for powers to rebuild it. Accordingly the ancient church was taken down in 1737, and the present structure finished in 1730. It is a plain substantial church, with rusticated angles, and a handsome cornice and balustrade by way of parapet. It gives its name by corruption of St. Olaves to St. Oleys, and then Tooleys, to the street in which it stands.

This parish is a rectory in the diocese of Winchester, in the county and archdeaconry of Surrey, and in the patronage of the Crown. The present rector is the Rev. A.H. Kenney, D.D., who was instituted by the King in 1822.

Olave's (St.), Tooley Street, Southwark, a church in the ward of Bridge Ward Without. The church was rebuilt 1737–1739 by Henry Flitcroft, the architect of the church of St. Giles's-in-the-Fields. The building is of Portland stone, 82 feet by 59, with a square tower at the west end. The interior has nave and aisles divided by fluted columns of the Ionic order, and a semi-circular apse. The nave is covered by a groined roof with five bays. On the night of August 19, 1843, the church was nearly destroyed by a fire which consumed the neighbouring shot tower, warehouses, and other river-side premises. The church was restored under the direction of Mr. George Allen, at a cost of about £4600, and reopened, November 17, 1844, by Archdeacon (afterwards Bishop) Wilberforce. There is an excellent organ by Hill. Of the old church there is a view by West and Toms.

On the bank of the river of Thames is the parish church of St. Olave, a fair and meet large church, but a far larger parish, especially of aliens, or strangers, and poor people.—Stow, p. 154.