Key facts
- Denomination
- Roman Catholic
- Address
- Lamb Holm
Orkney - Built
- 1945
- Listed status
- Category A listed
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata Q2545493, OpenStreetMap
Before visiting The Italian Chapel
Service times are not recorded in this listing. We cannot confirm when the next service takes place or whether the building opens outside worship hours.
We do not have confirmed information here about step-free access, accessible toilets, hearing support or supervised children’s groups. If these matter for your visit, ask the church about the specific service you plan to attend.
No direct contact details are recorded. Use the linked sources above or the wider local directory to continue your search.
About The Italian Chapel
The Italian Chapel is a Roman Catholic place of worship on Lamb Holm in Orkney, Scotland. Dating from 1945, it belongs to the parish of Our Lady and St Joseph within the Diocese of Aberdeen. The chapel remains in religious use, with Mass celebrated monthly from April to September. It is protected as a Category A listed building and is also widely visited.
Italian prisoners held on Lamb Holm created the chapel while working on the Churchill Barriers during the Second World War. Two Nissen huts were connected lengthways, lined with plasterboard and given a concrete frontage resembling a conventional church. Surplus concrete formed the altar and rails, while repurposed tins became light fittings and part of a vehicle exhaust was adapted for the font. Prisoner Domenico Chiocchetti painted the sanctuary, supported by others who decorated the interior. Restoration took place during the 1960s and 1990s, with further conservation of the painted decoration in 2015 and 2017.
Getting there
Frequently asked questions
What denomination is The Italian Chapel?⌄
The Italian Chapel in Lamb Holm belongs to the Roman Catholic tradition.
How old is the The Italian Chapel building?⌄
The building dates from 1945. It is on the statutory register as a Category A listed building.
More churches in Lamb Holm
Nearby churches
About this listing
This listing was put together from publicly available information and has not passed through our submission review process. If you represent The Italian Chapel, you can claim and update the listing free of charge, and once reviewed we will mark the submission as reviewed.
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