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And on this Rock: The Italian Chapel, Orkney
Thousands of visitors go to the Italian Chapel in Orkney every year, witnesses to a series of remarkable acts of transformation. Among these are the Churchill Barriers nearby, straddling the ocean to link a number of Orkney's southernmost islands to its mainland. Constructed to protect Britain's naval fleet in Scapa Flow during World War Two, its builders included a group of Italian soldiers imprisoned in this bleak and windswept part of Scotland. In the course of this, they not only played a part in changing Orkney's way-of-life forever but also transformed a simple Nissen Hut, constructing through their labours a place-of-worship that still stands till this day a remarkable symbol of their identity and faith. And On This Rock tells the story of the strength and tenacity, laughter and tears of the men who built the Italian Chapel, showing how spirits defeated and despondent during years of exile were lifted by its creation. It does this with its own artistry and grace, using folk-tale and myth to provide a fitting counterpart to the wonder and beauty of the building that inspired it. Illustrated.
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2010
10 people want to read
About the author
Donald S. Murray
31 books23 followersDonald S. Murray was born in Ness in the Isle of Lewis and taught on Benbecula. An author and journalist, his poetry, prose and verse has been shortlisted for both the Saltire Award and Callum Macdonald Memorial Award. Published widely, his work has also appeared in a number of national anthologies and on BBC Radio 4 and Radio Scotland. He lives and works in Shetland.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 20, 2019
I finished reading this book in the Orkney Library, Kirkwall, and embarrassingly I cried at the final chapter, at the description of Domenico Chiocchetti and his family being welcomed back on their visits to Orkney. War is such a stupid, sorry business; if ex-antagonists are able to meet in peace why should they have been antagonists at all? Murray writes this book as ‘faction’ inventing scenes and imaging what his protagonists were thinking, but the story has a solid basis of fact and it is astonishing. A beautiful book that reminds me of the importance of always working for peace in a violent world.
February 2, 2026
This is a book which is both about and not about the Italian Chapel in Orkney.
The beautiful Italian chapel was famously built from Nissen huts by Italian prisoners of war working on the Churchill Barriers durint WWII. This itself is a great story, but more importantly Donald S. Murray puts the chapel, its creators and Orkney itself into a much broader context. "And on this Rock" follows the life of the chief artist of the chapel, Domenico Chiocchetti and the social and political events which led to the Domenico and the other Italians being in North Africa where they were captured and also looks at the effect of the war and of the POWs on Orkney.
As a Hebridean Gaelic speaker living in Shetland, Murray brings his unique perspective to bear, pointing out that Domenico hailed from a Ladin speaking area of South Tyrol, an area which in his lifetime passed from the Austro Hungarian empire to Italy after the First World War. This multilingual Italian/German/Ladin speaking area had a very mixed national identity with some identifying with Austria/Germany, other with Italy and other with South Tyrol or a mixture of the above.
The book shows the individuality of the Italian and the British soldiers and the differences within the groups. It also strikes a hopeful note showing how art and, for some, spirituality can give real hope in times of distress.
This is an amazing and beautiful book.
The beautiful Italian chapel was famously built from Nissen huts by Italian prisoners of war working on the Churchill Barriers durint WWII. This itself is a great story, but more importantly Donald S. Murray puts the chapel, its creators and Orkney itself into a much broader context. "And on this Rock" follows the life of the chief artist of the chapel, Domenico Chiocchetti and the social and political events which led to the Domenico and the other Italians being in North Africa where they were captured and also looks at the effect of the war and of the POWs on Orkney.
As a Hebridean Gaelic speaker living in Shetland, Murray brings his unique perspective to bear, pointing out that Domenico hailed from a Ladin speaking area of South Tyrol, an area which in his lifetime passed from the Austro Hungarian empire to Italy after the First World War. This multilingual Italian/German/Ladin speaking area had a very mixed national identity with some identifying with Austria/Germany, other with Italy and other with South Tyrol or a mixture of the above.
The book shows the individuality of the Italian and the British soldiers and the differences within the groups. It also strikes a hopeful note showing how art and, for some, spirituality can give real hope in times of distress.
This is an amazing and beautiful book.
June 19, 2014
Good account of the Italian POWs working on the Churchill barriers. A little to much comparisons with fables and particular Pinocchio and didn't need the history lesson regarding Mussolini etc. but some might find it useful. The first hand accounts of this period are good from people in Orkney at the time and former POWs in particular it focuses on Domenico Chioccetti who did the artwork and sculptures for the Italian Chapel.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews