The Italian Chapel

The Italian Chapel is a highly ornate Catholic chapel in the Orkney Islands. It was built during World War II by Italian prisoners of war who were housed there.  The chapel was constructed from limited materials. The bulk was taken from previously sunken ships. The ships were deliberately sunk by the Scots, and their Italian prisoners, to create a blockade between the islands.   The prisoners salvaged metal from the ships, and built a forge, to shape the elaborate ironworks in the chapel.

As our guide was telling us the story, I wondered if the prisoners enjoyed the work.  On the one hand they were being held against their will, but on the other, they were being directed to build a church.  Being from Italy, they may have been among the 80% of the population that was raised Catholic in spite of the fact that they were fighting for a fascist dictator.  Building a church, away from the front lines, seems to me to be a better option.

When I looked up the story behind the chapel online, I found this.

The chapel was constructed by the prisoners in the form of a tin tabernacle and comprises two Nissen huts joined end-to-end. (Nissen huts were used by the military as barracks because of their simple design.) The corrugated interior was then covered with plasterboard and the altar and altar rail were constructed from concrete left over from work on the barriers.   They created a facade out of concrete, concealing the shape of the hut and making the building look like a church. The light holders were made out of corned beef tins. The baptismal was made from the inside of a car exhaust covered in a layer of concrete.

Our guide told us that a bond has been formed with the Italian city of Moena.  An Italian soldier, Domenico Chiocchetti, who took charge of the decoration of the chapel, was from Moena.  He stayed after the war until the chapel was finished and returned several times to assist in its preservation.  We saw a dedication plaque given by the citizens of Moena.  It was intended to help celebrate a bond between two groups of people during an extremely difficult time.

No one offered to explain the heart shaped stone that lies on the floor near the ornate ironworks forged by the prisoners, but I saw it as a sign of peace.