St Andrew’s church is situated adjoining a road junction in the core of the village of Chale. The village lies immediately to the W of the island’s southern chalk massif and is a short distance from the coast. The church consists of a nave with S aisle and porch, a chancel with a S chapel and a western tower. The arch between the chancel and the chapel is round-headed and plain. The S arcade has three varied bays, with the E bay dating from the later 12thc, with much of the structure to the W of this originating at a later date. The chancel was enlarged in 1872 to align with the S chapel. The tower dates from the 15thc (Lloyd and Pevsner 2006, 115-6).

Romanesque features are found in the eastern parts of the S arcade of the nave. The round-headed arch between the chancel and the S chapel is probably Romanesque.

St Andrews church was dedicated on 1st December 1114 by the bishop of Winchester, in the presence of Hugh de Gernon, the founder. An agreement was made concerning its relationship with Carisbrooke, its mother church, and soon after this it had its own burial ground (Hase 1988, 61; Hockey 1982, 6).

The E respond of the S aisle, pier 1, the arch of the first bay and the eastern part of pier 2 date from the later 12thc. Pier 2 would have been the W respond of an arcade of two bays. The third bay represents a westwards extension perhaps dating to c. 1300, with the arch of the second bay being remodelled at the same time. The archway on the S side of the chancel may be contemporary with the earlier components of the S arcade, i.e. later 12thc. It is possible that it was constructed earlier in the 12thc.