Our Vibrant Community
St Olave's Church aims to be a warm, welcoming, loving and inclusive community of people with widely differing gifts and an ethos for charitable giving.Welcome to our vibrant community
Warm, welcoming, loving and inclusive
Our Church Community
There are many ways to get involved in our vibrant St Olave’s Church community, which spans the age spectrum from younger families to very elderly people. Here are a few:
- Bible discussion groups, weekday Eucharists, supporting local charities….
- Leading the worship as a retired member of clergy
- Contributing to the Sunday morning worship as an altar server, reader, sidesperson, singing in the choir,leading the intercessions or readings, Sunday School, serving tea and coffee after the service….
- Cleaning the church, arranging the flowers, tidying the churchyard….
We have a regular bible study group, with additional opportunities for discussions in Advent and Lent. Congregation members also attend other City Centre Churches groups, such as Cross of Nails and weekday Eucharists.
St Olave’s members support local charities and further afield the work of USPG. Some are also involved in the wider work of the Deanery and Diocese Synods and as well as other Diocesan Boards.
There is a Social Committee which organises various parish events, such as lunches, talks, outings, entertainment, picnics and, most recently, a walking group. Such activities are particularly important in an eclectic congregation who are otherwise only likely to meet at services.
You can find out more about some of these activities below. If you are interested in getting involved in our church community, please let the PCC and churchwardens know by emailing churchwardens@stolaveschurch.org.uk.
Worship of God in liturgical form
An essential ingredient of our Eucharistic celebration
Here at St Olave’s we strive to create carefully crafted dignified ceremonial, an essential ingredient of our Eucharistic celebration. The worship of God in liturgical form is designed to pay heed to all our senses: see, hear, smell, touch, taste. Symbol and imagery are important, and the servers’ task is to join the celebrant in drawing attention to specific parts of the service where the activity of God is presented and to enrich its possibilities. The crucifer carries the cross, symbolic of the story of God in Christ. The thurifer prepares the way, and at points in the liturgy, sanctifies the priest and people, easing their passage to worship with the ancient custom of burning sweet smelling incense. The acolytes shed light on the gospel as it is carried out and read among the congregation and hence into the world; it is honoured with incense. In the Eucharistic prayer, light and incense confirm and enhance the elevation of the bread and the wine in their transformation. In short, the servers offer a vehicle by which the liturgical experience is enriched to the glory of God.
ALTAR SERVERS
Enriching the liturgical experience to the glory of God
St Olave’s has a team of servers who assist the clergy to facilitate and enhance the liturgy during services, both at the Sunday Eucharist and also at other special services during the church year. Each Sunday, the team is made up of five people consisting of a crucifer – who carries the cross, two acolytes carrying candles, a thurifer carrying a censer and Master of Ceremonies (MC) who is responsible for helping set up the altar in preparation for the Eucharist. The serving team encompasses a wide age range of both men and women and we are always open for new volunteers. No previous experience is required, as full training is provided and members of the serving team are offered the opportunity to participate in all the different duties.
Bill Read
MUSIC AT ST OLAVE’S
The work of Saint Olave’s Church Choir lies at the heart of the liturgy of this ancient York parish church.
Music is a very important part of church life at St Olave’s and our robed choir is one of the region’s most accomplished. The choir numbers up to 40 singers, ranging from school-age to ‘retired’, and including a number of families and students. We are fortunate in being able to draw upon a wide repertoire which covers the most important styles and periods from plainsong and polyphony to the twenty-first century, including new works written for the choir.
Our Church Choir
The core work of our church choir is to enhance the Sunday morning Sung Eucharist, which it does with a wide range of music. Highlights such as the major festivals of Christmas and Easter – and concerts – give the choir a prominent profile. An important part of the yearly cycle is a sung Requiem on Remembrance Sunday (those by Fauré, Duruflé, Mozart, Brahms and Howells have been performed in recent years), for which the choir has on occasion been joined by the Orchestra of St Olave’s Church. The choir has also been joined by the orchestra for notable concert performances of Britten’s St Nicolas and Bach’s St John Passion, as well as a hugely successful ‘come-and-sing’ performance of Handel’s Messiah for the York Residents’ Festival. Listen to the choir and organ in action by clicking on the button below!
Keith Wright
Children and Young People
Children and Young People are Integral to our Worship
Fellowship and discipleship for children and young people is integrated throughout the life of the church family at St Olave’s. The input of children and young people is encouraged both in church and in our community activities.
There are many ways for children and young people to get involved.
Sunday School
We have a small but thriving Sunday School “Roots Group” which enables primary age children to develop friendships and learn through play and crafts during the first half of the church service. The “Roots Group” meets twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. There is also an area within the church where younger children can draw or read during services in full sight of their parents.
Opportunities for Young People
Children and young people might be involved in welcoming the congregation as they arrive at church, serving coffee and biscuits at the end of church services, participating in social activities or helping in church yard clear up days. At various festival times throughout the year the young people in the church family take part in worship – reading, speaking and inspiring the congregation with their innovative intercessions. On one occasion we even rejuvenated the tradition of the ‘Boy Bishop’! In addition, young people can grow within our church community by joining the Junior Choir and Altar Servers team.
Junior Choir
Junior Choir prepares children to confidently join the main ‘intergenerational’ choir leading worship at St Olave’s. There are practices on Tuesdays after school and before the Eucharist service on Sunday mornings. Younger members of the Junior Choir are encouraged to take part in the Sunday School activities.
Altar Servers
The Altar Servers team has progression routes for people from a very young age from incense boat bearer, to acolyte to cross bearer and so on. Some Altar Servers also sing in the choir. You can read more about the special contribution that Altar Servers make to the liturgical experience at St Olave’s below.
As young people from families at St Olave’s grow and progress to work, university or into adult life, we see them take a passion and commitment for choral and liturgical worship with them and a genuine appreciation for the community and fellowship they were part of in York. They also have an extended family across the generations in the congregation – looking out for them, supporting them and upholding them.
HOLY DUSTERS & FLOWER ARRANGERS
Weekly on Friday mornings
The Holy Dusters meet on Friday mornings from around 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. We dust, polish the pews, shine the brass, vacuum and clean the vestibule windows until they squeak and generally keep our lovely church sparkling. We welcome visitors who come to look around and when appropriate have a chat and answer their questions. At around 10:30 a.m. we take a break along with the flower arrangers and anyone else who happens to be in church for coffee, tea and biscuits and sometimes cake when there’s a birthday to celebrate. We are a close support and friendship group and send group birthday cards to each other and check up on anyone who has been unwell.
Gail Murden
Caring for St Olave’s Church
St Olave’s has a team of Flower Arrangers. Acknowledging God as the creator of all things of beauty, our desire is to heighten the worship of the Church by the dedicated use of our gifts. We use both fresh and silk flowers, of which we have a very extensive collection, and since the beginning of 2024 we have been committed to a transition away from using the environmentally damaging Oasis as part of our desire to be greener in our arrangements.
There are no flowers in Church in Lent or Advent and all team members come together to decorate the Church at Major Festivals /Church Events.
Our AGM is held in the autumn and we usually have one or two social events with the Holy Dusters during the year. Flower Arrangers and Holy Dusters come together on Friday mornings between 9.30 and 11.15 to work, socialise and support one another.
We are always open to new members. No experience is necessary, apart from a love of flowers, a desire to serve the Church in this way and to become a member of a very happy and supportive team.
Penny Mitchell
St Olave’s Knit and Natter group
Monthly on Monday Afternoons
Responding to the need for warmth and comfort of refugees and others cold from the energy crisis, the Knit and Natter Group meets on the 4th Monday afternoon of each month. We produce a steady flow of blankets from knitted or crocheted 6-inch squares which we sew together when we meet. They are then dispatched to those in need. Initially the blankets were given to refugees but have also been offered to the St Denis Warm Space project for local distribution with others having gone to people at the Lighthouse project in Leeds. We enjoy a social gathering with a practical purpose.
Jane Lockley
SOCIAL EVENTS
We enjoy a range of activities each year through the efforts and enthusiasm of many people.
Parish lunches, charity talks, walks, bike rides and picnics, churchyard open days, fundraising events, fascinating lectures and musical evenings – thank you to everyone who makes a contribution to this aspect of the life of our church family!
Our Social Life
Would you like to make new friends, know more about our community at St.Olave’s?
We have a range of social events and gatherings. Some are fund-raising, some are simply fun-raising! Some are regular, some are for special occasions. Below are some examples of our activities.
Regular events:
- The churchyard gardening group; regular maintenance as well as an exciting new project to improve biodiversity, and a twice-yearly clean-up followed by lunch.
- The walking group; monthly walks around York as well as farther afield, of varied lengths to suit a variety of people.
- Voices from the Pews; a monthly series of evenings, March – November, when one of our congregation shares something of themselves – their work, hobbies, background, life, faith – over drinks and nibbles.
Special events:
- Churchyard parties to mark national celebrations, the end of the summer term, – any excuse!
- Mulled wine, mince pies and carols in an illuminated Christmas Garden.
- Evenings of dramatic humour, led by Bill Read and Janet Fox.
- Open Gardens – a wonderful opportunity to visit the beautiful hidden gardens in our parish.
- A lunch followed by an auction of promises in aid of Accomplish Children’s Trust.
- Quiet day at Wyedale Hall.
- Open churchyard weekends in conjunction with York Unlocked.
- A day trip to visit the Bishop Auckland Project on Saturday May 17th 2025.
- A Day of Time – various talks/activities in conjunction with York Festival of Ideas.
Frances Brock
Our Community Gallery
Click or tap on the images to display large versions
Helping others
Charity Work
Members of St Olave’s Church are actively involved with the other York City Centre Churches, for example as part of the Community of the Cross of Nails based at St Martin’s Church Coney Street – the York church dedicated to peace and reconcilliation.
St Olave’s Church members also support the work of USPG and Accomplish Children’s Trust, a Christian charity supporting children with disabilities and their families in Africa.
There is a very strong ethos within the congregation of extending the reach of St Olave’s by supporting different charities, with much associated and inventive fundraising.
A short introductory video about Accomplish Children’s Trust
The Community of the Cross of Nails
Central to the prayer life of the Community of the Cross of Nails is the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation. This is prayed each Wednesday at St Martin’s at the beginning of the 12.15 pm Eucharist. Each Friday prayers for peace and reconciliation, comprising a Bible reading, reflection, prayers and the Coventry Litany, are posted here and are circulated by email. If you would like to be added to that mailing list please contact Kingsley. You can read more about the Community of the Cross of Nails here.
Kingsley Boulton
Accomplish Children’s Trust
In recent years, St Olave’s has supported Accomplish Children’s Trust www.accomplishtrust.org.uk in many ways, including members of the congregation visiting their projects, and fundraising. Accomplish Children’s Trust CIO is a UK based charity (registered in England & Wales) that fundraises for partner organisations running projects in rural Africa. The mission is to transform the lives of children with disabilities in Africa, usually in poor, remote regions. They believe every child should be loved, respected and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Following Christian principles, Accomplish Children’s Trust supports projects for children with disabilities that promote education, medical needs, income generation and community outreach. They do this in several ways:
- UK based fundraising
- Award of grants
- Strategic collaborations and long-term African partnerships
- Communication of news, support actions and prayer needs to our members
Chris Acton
USPG
Accomplish Children’s Trust
Accomplish Children’s Trust
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