Church Overview

The extraordinary Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm is now all that remains of “Camp 60”, home to hundreds of Italian prisoners of war during World War Two. This remarkable improvised place of worship was crafted from two Nissen huts in 1943-44, using material salvaged from sunken blockships in Scapa Flow.

It stands as a wonderful testimony to the artistic skills of Domenico Chiocchetti and his fellow prisoners who were housed on Orkney during the war to work on the construction of the defensive Churchill Barriers. The entrance front is built out of the same reinforced concrete as was used for the barriers complete with a belfry, crockets and a moulded head of Christ above the door.

The Nissen hut walls were lined in plasterboard, and trompe l’oeil decoration gives the impression of stone panels, brickwork and a ribbed ceiling. Beautifully designed altar, altar-rail, screen, font and holy water stoup, all made from scrap materials. Painted glass windows depicting St Francis of Assisi and St Catherine of Siena. Outside, the statue of St George was created by Chiocchetti using barbed wire covered with concrete.

Domenico Chiocchetti returned to Lambholm in 1960 to restore his wartime work and on many further occasions, with several other former prisoners, until his death in 1999. A unique and very moving building, a local preservation committee is now dedicated to its upkeep and has built a small visitor centre and car park nearby.

More images and information on the Undiscovered Scotland website.

Services

Catholic Mass celebrated 1st Sunday of month (April to Sept) at 3.30pm

Opening Arrangements

Admission costs £4 per person (under 12s free). Open 10-1 in winter and 10-4 in summer.

Booking is advisable for large groups. For enquiries about this, weddings or other matters, contact orkneyitalianchapel@gmail.com

Disclaimer

The information about churches in Scotland’s Churches Scheme has been provided by the congregations or taken from the Historic Scotland list and published sources, in particular, the Buildings of Scotland volumes and the RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides. To contact this specific church please complete the Contact this Church form above. The information is not authoritative; please contact Scotland’s Churches Trust to let us know of any errors or omissions.