St. Olave's Church, Gatcombe

St Olave’s Church stands in the quiet village of Gatcombe on the Isle of Wight. It is a small parish church of the Church of England, grouped with three other churches on the island. Building began here in the 13th century and the church was dedicated in 1292. It started as a chapel for Gatcombe House and later came under the care of the Worsley family. The font is probably from the early 13th century. The chancel was rebuilt in the 1860s and the church was restored again around 1920. The church is recognised for its stained glass by leading Pre-Raphaelite artists. William Morris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Ford Madox Brown and Edward Burne-Jones created windows here in 1865 and 1866. Rossetti helped found the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood with Morris, Brown and Burne-Jones. A carved wooden effigy in the chancel dates from the early 14th century. Scholars still debate whether it is a genuine medieval figure or a later imitation. A monument at the west end honours Captain Charles Grant Seely, killed in 1917 during the Second Battle of Gaza. Visitors find a peaceful church with notable art and memorials. The tower holds three bells that do not ring. The organ was built in 1919 and donated as a war memorial. The churchyard contains two Commonwealth war graves from the Second World War. The building’s simple stone walls and high windows let in soft light. The interior feels calm, with the stained glass casting coloured patterns on the floor.