As I was, so be ye; as I am, you shall be.
What I gave, that I have; what I spent, that I had.
Thus I count all my cost; what I left that I lost.
John Organ, obiit An. Dom. 1591.
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, 120l. a year in lieu of tithes.
St. Olave’s Silver street, stood at the south west corner of Silver street, in Aldersgate ward; but being consumed by the fire of London, and not rebuilt, the parish is annexed to the neighbouring church of St. Alban’s Wood street.
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 consists of a plain body strengthened with rustic quoins at the corners; the door is well proportioned without ornament, and the windows are placed in three series; the lowest is upright, but considerably broad; those above them circular, and others on the roof are large and semicircular. The tower consists of three stages; the uppermost of which is considerably diminished; in this is the clock, and in the stages below are large windows. The top of the tower is surrounded by a plain substantial balustrade, and the whole has an air of plainness and simplicity.