Miracle At The Italian Chapel

At once my demons and angels were reconciled.

Perhaps the least flattering yet, to me, the most important view of the Italian Chapel, Orkney. All pictures by Sean McBride

The Italian Chapel, on the remote Orkney Islands, is striking and beautiful. Set above the rugged shoreline on the tiny island of Lambholm. The story of its construction reflects the light of creativity shining out of the darkness of adversity. Yet it was outside at the back of the chapel, where all you can see is the mere Nissen Hut it was built from, that I encountered a miracle I hadn’t even realized I was searching for.

Section of Churchill Barriers connecting Lambholm to St Marys.

The Italian Chapel was once part of a World War 2 POW Camp holding Italian Soldiers captured in Africa. At their request, two Nissen Huts within the camp placed end to end were allocated to them for use as a school and a chapel. One of the prisoners, an artist named Domenico Chioccetti, took charge of decorating the Nissen Huts as a chapel.

His artistry inspired a building so beautiful that it brought to my mind such wonders as St Peter’s Basilica or the Taj Mahal.

The Italian Chapel. Beautiful inside (Below) and out (Above).