AN ORKNEY SURPRISE

Wonderful Italian Church

When in Scotland I wanted to include the Orkney Islands where 20,000 people are outnumbered by 100,000 head of cattle and sheep. There are few trees, and the major industries include fishing, silver jewelry, and North Sea oil. The Orkneys are way north and few people visit the hilly grass-covered barren landscapes. Long rows of plastic covered baled hay standing on large farm plots. Winds are harsh and strong, but the Gulf Stream moderates winter temperatures.

The Orkneys have not always been part of Britain, but were part of Norway until 1460. In that year Norway’s King Christian’s daughter married James II of Scotland and the Orkney Islands were her dowry. Of Orkney’s 70 islands only 20 are inhabited. The island chain covers 376 square miles and has a coastline of 600 miles.

During WW II, 1000 Italian POWs were confined in Orkney. About 500 men at camp 60 resided in Quonset huts. They were pretty loosely guarded, as there was nowhere for them to go. It didn’t take long for those Catholic boys to realize they wanted and needed a chapel. After making a request through proper channels, they were given a Nissen hut (the British equivalent of a Quonset hut) and the support of the camp commander and chaplain.

Under the direction of artistic prisoner, Domenico Chiocchetti the POWs embarked on creating a church. The boys then set about scavenging whatever scrap materials they could find. Scrap metal was used to create the altar and decorative archway. The walls were flat and one actually had to touch them to realize the beige bricks were all painted with a brush. The inside is of Gothic design. A lovely fresco decorates the ceiling. At least one talented artist was among them! The entrance has a lovely simple façade. It is evident that this church resides in a Quonset hut only from a side view. As the war was nearing its end and the prisoners were released, Chiocchetti stayed behind to complete the chapel. This little chapel in a Quonset hut is quite amazing.

Stepping inside we stood stunned at the beautiful sight before us. To think such a lovely chapel was created out of scrap materials is unbelievable. Chiocchetti died in 1999, but what a wonderful symbol of peace he left behind!

More about the Orkneys another day.