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The Italian Chapel of Orkney - A Symbol of Peace From a Time of War

By Ferne Arfin, About.com

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A Work of Art Created From Scrap, Salvage and Devotion

The Italian Chapel on Orkney

The Italian Chapel on Orkney was built by Italian prisoners of war who were on the island constructing the Churchill Barrier that protects Scapa Flow

©Visit Orkney
To decorate the Italian Chapel, Chiocchetti gathered a small band of artisans from among the prisoners - a blacksmith, a cement worker, electricians and artists.

Materials came from wherever they could find them. The altar, altar rail and font are of molded concrete, the altar was built of wood salvaged from a shipwreck. The "stained glass" windows are of painted glass. The wrought iron rood screen, fashioned by a prisoner who had been a wrought iron worker in America before the war, took four months to finish.

Visiting the Italian Chapel

  • Open dawn to dusk, daily, admission free
  • Mass celebrated on the first Sunday of each month
  • Telephone (011 from the USA) 44 (0)1856 872856
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