Parish of St Olave, Hart Street, City of London , Church of England

Parish of St Olave, Hart Street, City of London , Church of England

History of the united parishes of St Olave Hart Street, All Hallows Staining and St Katherine Coleman:

Saint Olave Hart Street is named after King Olaf of Norway who fought with Ethelred the Unready against the Danes in the Battle of London Bridge, and was canonised for his defence of Christendom. King Olaf died in 1025 and this church was founded soon after. The original church was rebuilt in the 13th century and again in 1450. Samuel Pepys and his wife worshipped here and are buried here. Restorations were needed after the Second World War.

The parish of All Hallows Staining was united to the parish of Saint Olave Hart Street in 1870 and the church of All Hallows Staining was demolished in the same year. In 1921 the parish of Saint Katherine Coleman was united to Saint Olave Hart Street (with All Hallows Staining) and the redundant church was demolished in 1926.

Information from The London Encyclopaedia, eds. Weinreb and Hibbert (LMA Library Reference 67.2 WEI).