30 Guernsey Essentials: The Little Chapel

All information in this blog post is correct as of the publishing date,  07.02.14.

During 2014, we are celebrating 30 years of bringing customers from the UK to the Channel Islands. As part of this celebration, we will be writing about 30 Guernsey essentials, from attractions and outdoor activities to special local food and some lesser-known island treats.

Part 3: The Little Chapel 

Pretty and quirky, the Little Chapel is tiny yet attracts many visitors who come to admire what could be the smallest chapel in the world. Completely covered in local shells, broken glass collected around Guernsey, and other colourful stones, the Little Chapel is as much a curiosity as a work of art and definitely deserves a visit during your stay in Guernsey!

The Little Chapel Interior

Looking back

The chapel was erected during the early part of last century by Brother Déodat – one of the Brothers of the Christian Schools –  who tried to build his own version of Notre Dame Grotto in Lourdes. This didn’t go without difficulty and the Chapel you see today is actually the third and final version. The second building had to be demolished after being too small to accommodate the visiting Bishop of Portsmouth!

The Little Chapel, Guernsey

 

Looking forward

Located close to Guernsey west coast, the Little Chapel is situated in Guernsey’s only landlocked parish. The Little Chapel was never just a tourist attraction and still welcomes worshipers.

Now in the hands of a private girls’ college and run by a charitable trust, the Little Chapel relies on donations to keep up with repairs and maintain the site in a suitable state for all to enjoy.