The daughter of a prisoner of war who helped make the Italian Chapel in Lamb Holm, Orkney, a place of beauty and international acclaim was guest of honour at a special mass.
Letizia Chiocchetti, daughter of Domenico, travelled to the islands to make a special presentation.
Domenico Chiocchetti was one of the Italian prisoners of war who, when a prisoner on the island during World War II, played a major role in transforming the chapel into a place of adoration and beauty.
Letizia presented to the chapel on April 28 a new figure of Christ for the crucifix, which now stands outside the chapel, in memory of her father.
The figure was blessed following concelebration of the Mass by Father Peter Kelly and Bishop Hugh Gilbert.
Letizia was accompanied by her husband Elio Fonti. The chapel held 30 people who were specially invited to the mass and blessing, along with a similar number of local parishioners.
Father Peter Kelly said: “Letizia has gifted the new figure of Christ for the crucifix that stands outside the chapel and had arranged for it to be made in Moena, Italy, the home town of her father, Domenico.
“During the winter in Orkney the original cross and canopy were badly damaged so the Italian Chapel Preservation Committee had arranged for a new cross and canopy to be made by a local joiner. This, together with the figure of Christ, were blessed in a very special ceremony.”
John Muir, one of the founding members of the committee, who is now in his 80s, has kept in touch with Letizia over the years and others with links to the chapel and has visited them many times over in Italy as well as hosting them on their visits to Orkney.
He only recently resigned as secretary of the committee but is still very active, and is an honorary member of the committee.
Bishop Hugh added: “After the departure of the prisoners, the exquisite chapel, built out of two Nissen huts, using among other things car exhausts and used bully beef tins, began to deteriorate.
“Thanks to a local landowner and to John Muir and others, not only was the chapel ‘rescued’ but Domenico Chiocchetti, the principal artist, was invited back to Orkney. During his visit he was only too happy to carry our restoration work on the chapel that he and his fellow countrymen had accomplished as Prisoners of War in Camp 60.”