Open House Festival 2026 at St Olave Hart Street
12/13/19/20 September 2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us!
It was wonderful to welcome so many visitors to St Olave Hart Street across two weekends as part of Open House Festival 2026.
This year’s Open House was particularly special as we mark 75 years since the beginning of the post-war restoration of St Olave’s. Visitors explored nearly a thousand years of history: from the church’s medieval origins and its survival of the Great Fire, through the world of Samuel Pepys, to its devastation during the Blitz and remarkable restoration after the Second World War.
Across four days we welcomed visitors for guided and self-guided tours, special talks, visits to the crypt, bellringing demonstrations and tours of our historic belltower.
Open House Weekend – Saturday 12 September – 12.30pm–5.30pm
Self-Guided Visits & Monumental Brass Society Lectures
Thank you to everyone who joined us for visits to the church and crypt, joining our tours, and attending the Monumental Brass Society’s fascinating afternoon of talks.
We were delighted to welcome Rear Admiral Mike Harris, Penny Ritchie Calder and Nicholas Rogers, who helped us explore some of the remarkable people, monuments and stories contained within St Olave’s walls — from the medieval church and its lost memorials to the monuments which survive today. Our particular thanks to the Monumental Brass Society for choosing St Olave’s for their autumn meeting and for their support for the conservation of our historic monuments.
And thank you especially to all our volunteers who helped us welcome so many visitors throughout the afternoon.
Open House Weekend – Sunday 13 September – 12.30pm–5.30pm
Guided Church Tours
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Guided Tours to discover nearly a thousand years of faith, history and life in the heart of the City. We were delighted to be able to share some of the stories of those who have called St Olave’s their “own church” since its foundation in 1050, and discover how the building was rescued and restored after wartime destruction.
Thank you especially to Debbie, Jack, Penny, Maria and Graham from the church for all their help this weekend. If you were able to join us please do share your pictures and feedback with us.
Open House Weekend – Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th September 2026
Our final Open House weekend brought an extraordinary 1,165 visitors through the doors of St Olave’s — 742 on Saturday and 423 on Sunday.
Visitors joined guided tours of the church, explored the crypt, heard our bells ringing and, on Saturday, joined our bellringers for pre-booked tours of the historic belltower.
A specially installed webcam also allowed visitors who were unable to climb the tower to watch the bells ringing from below.
Throughout the weekend we shared some of the people, monuments and stories which have shaped St Olave’s over the centuries.
Thank you to everyone who visited us, and especially to our volunteers and bellringers who gave their time to help us welcome so many people.
Open House may be over for another year, but St Olave Hart Street remains open throughout the year for worship, visitors and special events. Do come and visit again soon!
