St. Olave Old Jewry

St. Olave Old Jewry

On the west side of Old Jewry, in Coleman Street Ward, on the boundary of Coleman Street and Cheap Wards (O.S.).

The parish extends into Cheap Ward.

Earliest mention found in records: "St. Olave in the Jewry." In an Inquisition relating to the church in 1181 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 68).

St. Olave's is mentioned in a MS. c. 1130 relating to lands of the church of St. Paul amongst the MSS. of the Dean and Chapter. From the context it appears to be the Church of St. Olave, Old Jewry.

Other names and forms: "S. Olave in Colchirchiane," 1293–4 (Ct. H.W. I. 113). St. Olave Upwelle in the Jewry," 16 Ed. II. 1323 (Cal. P.R. Ed. II. 1321–4, p. 302). "S. Olave en la Oldeiuwerie," 1327–8 (Ct. H.W. I. 329). "S. Olave Eldiurie," 1381 (Ct. H.W. I. p. 225).

The Chapel of St. Stephen was annexed to St. Olave 1399 and a new aisle added to the church by T. Morsted, 1436 (S. 283).

Repaired in 1608 and again 1628.

Burnt in the Fire 1666 and rebuilt of freestone 1673–6, with churchyard adjoining on the south side.

Restored 1874 (Strype, Ed. 1720, I. iii. 57).

A Rectory and afterwards a Vicarage. Patron: The Canons of St. Paul's and afterwards the Priory of Butley. After the dissolution of the monasteries the patronage passed to the Crown, in whose hands it remained.

After the Fire the parishes of St. Martin Ironmonger Lane, St. Mary Colechurch and St. Mildred Poultry were united to it.

Removed 1888–9, and the parish united to St. Margaret Lothbury under the Bishop of London's Union of Benefices Act.

Strype says there was a well under the east end of the church lately turned to a pump but decayed 1320 (ib.). Perhaps this was the origin of the name "Upwelle." The Jewry was of course the Jewish quarter in early times.

The remains of a Roman pavement, vases, etc., were found in the course of demolishing this church.

St. Olaves Jewry Church.

It is situate on the W. side of the Old Jewry, in the Ward of Coleman str. within the Walls, and near the middle of the City: To which is united, by Act of Parliament, the Parish of St. Martins Ironmonger lane, or Pomery (from Apples supposed formerly to grow there) in the Ward of Cheap.

It is called St. Olave, in memory of that Saint and the word Jewry was added, to distinguish this from other Churches of St. Olave; this being the place where many Jews reside, who were (says Stow) much favoured by William Rufus; discouraged by Henry the 1st, and for corrupting his Coin punished; not admitted by Richard the 3d to come to his Coronation; tormented and rifled by King Joh, and the Barons in his time. Henry the 3d escheated their Lands and Goods, and exacted Money from them. In the Reign of Edward the 1st, 267 were hanged for Clipping the King's Coin: In the 16th of his Reign all the Jews in England were apprehended, and redeemed themselves for 12000 l. of Silver; but in the 19th of his Reign he banished them all to the number of 15060 Persons. At this time the Jews are tolerated amongst us, and have 2 Synagogue; but how far it is in the Nation's Interest that they should be so, I have not room, nor is it my Province to determine. It was about the Year 1320 called St. Olave Upwell.

III. As to its Foundation, I find by Circumstances that it has been a Parish-Church about 387 Years, and was probably so many Years before that. Thomas Morestead, Esq; Surgeon to Henrel the 4th, 5th, and 6th, built the N. Ile, enlarging so much this Church, Anno 1450; and being unhappily demolished by the fatal Flames in 1666, was again re-edified and finished, Anno 1673. …

X. The Extent of St. Olave's Jewry Parish, is, in Church alley the Vicar's House. In the Old Jewry from Cateaton str Sd. 1 House and a half beyond the Duke's head on the W. side, and to Mr. Maning's a Silk-dyer on the E. side. In Lothbury 1 House, and the corner next the Old Jewry. And on the S. side of Cateaton str. from the Old Jewry to Mr. Hatches, at the Sign of the Pottage pot; and on the N. side from Basinghall str. at the SE Angle; and in Coleman str. it extendsNd to Windmill court on that side, and 3 Houses on the W. side of that Court, (and a Kitchin,) and all other Passages, Courts, &c. in this Compass; containing in the whole 59 Houses.

The Contents of St. Martin's Ironmonger lane Parish, is as follows: Beginning at Mr. Simmonds, a Salter, on the S. side of Cateaton str. it extends to Ironmonger lane, and all that Lane, except the NW corner House, and 3 Houses next Cheapside, also it takes in the Passage into King str. and on the E. side of King str. Mr. Caters, Mr. Smithsons, Mr. Wats, a Surgeon, and 3 next him Nd; also Mr. Bellamys and Mr. Bakers; this whole Paris comprising 42 Houses.

See Sect. 6 Old Jewry Almshouses.

[St. Olave Jewry Church.] On the West side of [Old Jewry] Street, about the middle, is St. Olave Jewry Church, destroyed by the great Fire; new built of Free stone, with a Church Yard adjoyning on the South side: Where there is a passage with a Free stone Pavement, leading to Ironmonger lane.

St. Olave's Jewry, situated on the west side of the Old Jewry, in Coleman street ward, was anciently denominated St. Olave's Upwell, from its dedication to the saint of that name, and probably from a well under the east end, wherein a pump is now placed; but that gave way to the name of Jewry, owing to this neighbourhood's becoming the principal residence of the Jews in this city.

Here was a parish church so early as the year 1181; the last sacred edifice was destroyed by the fire of London, and the present finished in 1673. It consists of a well enlightened body, seventy-eight feet in length, and twenty-four in breadth; the height to the roof is thirty-six feet, and that of the tower and pinacles eighty-eight. The door is well proportioned, and of the Doric order, covered with an arched pediment. On the upper part of the tower, which is very plain, rises a cornice supported by scrolls; and upon this plain attic course, on the pillars at the corners, are placed the pinacles, standing on balls, and each terminated on the top by a ball.

This church, tho' anciently a rectory, is now a vicarage in the gift of the Crown; and the parish of St. Martin, Ironmonger lane, is now united to it, by which the Incumbent's profits are considerably increased; he receives besides other profits, 120 l. a year in lieu of tithes.

St. Olave Jewry, the church of, stands on the west side of the Old Jewry, is of very ancient foundation, and was originally called St. Olave Upwell, from its patron saint, and the well at the east end in which a pump is now fixed. It was afterwards called Jewry, from its vicinity becoming the allotted residence of the Jews in London.

The parish is ancient, and was a rectory, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, till about the year 1181, when it was transferred by them, with the chapel of St. Stephen, Coleman-street, to the prior and convent of Butley, in Suffolk, when it became a vicarage. At the suppression of the monasteries, the impropriation was forfeited to the crown, in whom it has continued till the present time. After the fire of London the parish of St. Martin Pomary, in Ironmonger-lane, was united to this parish, which being a rectory, also in the patronage of the crown, the presentation to the united livings is in the king.— [See St. Martin Pomary.

The ancient church was destroyed by the great fire of 1666, and the present one erected on its site for the united parishes by Sir Christopher Wren. It was began in 1673, and finished in 1676, and is a plain neat church of brick, with stone dressings, to the doors and windows.

The united parishes are as before-mentioned, a vicarage and rectory, in the patronage of the crown, and in the city, diocese and archdeaconry of London. Its present rector and vicar is the Rev. Robert Hamilton, D.D., who was instituted by the Lord Chancellor in 1797.

Olave's (St.), Jewry, or St. Olave Upwell, in the Jewry, a church in Coleman Street Ward, destroyed in the Great Fire, and rebuilt under the direction of Sir C. Wren in 1673–1676.

In the Old Jewry is a proper parish church of St. Olave Upwell, so called in record 1320.—Stow, p. 106.

It served as well for the parish of St. Martin Pomeroy, St. Mary Colechurch, and St. Mildred Poultry. In the old church was buried Robert Large, mercer, the master of Caxton, the father of English printing; and in the present church was buried Alderman John Boydell, the well-known engraver and print-publisher, Lord Mayor, 1790 (d. 1804), whose example and encouragement contributed to the formation and development of the British School of Historical Painting. There was a monument to his memory against the north wall. The church was a plain edifice of brick and stone, with a square tower at the west, surmounted with pinnacles at the angles. The interior was 78 feet long, 34 wide and 36 high, and had some good oak carvings on the pulpit and chancel fittings. John Chamberlain, whose letters afford such valuable materials for history, was the son of an alderman and ironmonger who resided in this parish. The church was restored in 1874, but in 1888 the parish was united to that of St. Margaret, Lothbury, under the Bishop of London's Union of Benefices Act.