The Church of St. Peter & St. Paul
Olney's Parish Church
The view from High Street South, Olney.
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The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul replaced a Saxon Church which stood at the North end of the town near where the Castle Inn now stands. This Grade 1 listed building was is reputed to have been built between 1325 to 1350 and, despite considerable restoration in 1807, remains a very good example of what is known as the Decorated style. The magnificent broach spire, which dominates the surrounding meadows, is 185 feet high and carries a peal of eight bells, the oldest of which is dated 1532 and is inscribed "God save the Queen".
The Olney - Newton Link
The names of Olney and of John Newton have been connected since the former slave-trader was curate at St Peter and St Paul’s church between 1764 and 1780. Newton’s friendship enabled William Wilberforce to become the greatest advocate of the abolition of the slave trade. Later, they worked together to establish a home for freed slaves in Sierra Leone – this is how the villages of Newton and Wilberforce came to being.
www.olney-newtonlink.co.uk (the Olney - Newton, Sierra Leone website)
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created January 25, 1997 |
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