St Olave's Church York

Open most days just behind Saint Mary's Abbey. Nice little church with all the usual and a couple of colorful windows.

St Olave's sits on the edge of the museum gardens. It's a lovely quiet place to be with your thoughts or to explore as it has information on hand if you are into church history and architecture. Some nice stained glass and 2 war memorials.

Within St Mary's Abbey walls, which was ruined in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, is St Olave's Church. It is dedicated to St Olaf, patron saint of Norway. It is believed to have the earliest date (1055) for a church dedication to St Olaf (Olav in Norwegian) anywhere in the world. The current church has had substantial changes over the centuries, with the first major rebuild in the 15th Century and the church reflects this character, although it did undergo major renovation in the 1880s. A statue of St Olave can be seen on the exterior over the main door. There is a bell tower with 6 bells. The church has a musical tradition and has a choir and organ, and holds concerts throughout the year. The denomination of the church is Church of England.It is a peaceful place to visit, within the Museum Gardens, and although small and dark inside, contains many old features that history buffs will appreciate. The cemetery outside is locked, no doubt due to risk of vandalism, but there are also flagstones in the church which mark the resting places of long gone Christians.

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An atmospheric little church with a history going back to Saxon times. It's dedicated to King Olaf, a Viking warrior who converted to Christianity and became the patron saint of Norway. I reached it through an archway at the back of the Museum Gardens, behind the ruined abbey. The quiet, dimly lit interior offered a welcome respite from the bustle of the city centre. The church has beautiful stained glass, some of it medieval. Worth spending some time here.

Peaceful and prayerful place just outside the bustle of the city centre

The only one there and no lights on, but here is my stained glass windows series.

Great church with a warm welcome to visitors. We are Anglo-catholic ie Church of England, despite what the Google review summary says! Our music is of an especially high standard. We are also proud of our patron saint, Olaf,and his links with Norway. Come and enjoy the peace and the warmth.

Old peaceful church.. not a tourist interest.

We visited during 'York Unlocked' weekend and found it, as would be expected, to be steeped in the rich history of the city. Packed with historical information as were the volunteer guides who were more than willing to share their knowledge. A thoroughly interesting and informative visit.