The Church of St Olave of Gatcombe, which lies to the south of Carisbrooke, consists of chancel, nave and west tower.  It was built by on the the Estur family in the 13th century for the use of the Gatcombe tenantry.  Of the original fabric there remain the chancel arch, the sepulchral recess in the north wall of the chancel, a lancet light in the south wall of the nave and the octagonal bowl of the font of Purbeck marble, chancelled into pointed arcades.  In the last quarter of the 15th century square-headed two-light windows were introduced into the north and south walls, and a fairly good tower of three stages, probably an imitation of that of Carisbrooke, was added at the west end.

Fragments of old stained glass remain in the upper lights of the 15th century windows, chiefly representative of the angelic hierarchy in their feathery clothing.

The life-sized wooden effigy in the sepulchral recess on the north side of the chancel is a puzzle.  Dr Fryer in his work on wooden effigies, says: “The figure has no merit, and it is doubtful if any portion is of great antiquity; probable that the whole work is an anachronism which may be assigned to the Jacobean period.”  The effigy is cut in would-be early armour, has been a good deal mutilated and in parts restored.  It must have been intended for some real person and originally cost much to carve.

There was much rash and unhappy restoration in 1864-5, which involved the rebuilding of the chancel, when the recess was moved eastward.  It was at this date that the old traceried chancel screen was taken down and the highly interesting late Elizabethan altar rails barbarously chopped up and the lettered portions stuck up on the top of the new screen.  The old Jacobean altar table, bearing the legend “Prayse ye the Lord” has been turned out into the vestry.  A handsome secular cup of the year 1540, figured by Cripps, was given to the church in Elizabethan days, when a paten cover was added.

Transcribed from “County Churches by J Charles Cox, LL.D., F.S.A. Pub. 1911.