Little Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Little Chapel |
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The Little Chapel
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Non-denominational |
| Region | Guernsey |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Municipality | St Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | 1923 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 16 feet (4.9 m) |
| Width | 9 feet (2.7 m) |
The Little Chapel is a very special and tiny chapel. You can find it in the Les Vauxbelets valley in Saint Andrew, Guernsey. It was started in July 1914 by a man named Brother Déodat. He wanted to build a miniature version of the famous grotto and basilica in Lourdes, France.
People often say the Little Chapel is "probably the biggest tourist attraction in Guernsey." They also describe it as "intricate," meaning it has many tiny, detailed parts.
Contents
History of the Little Chapel
Building the Chapel
Brother Déodat first started building his tiny chapel in March 1914. It was very small, only 9 feet long and 4.5 feet wide. Other brothers thought it was too small. So, Déodat decided to take it down.
He finished a second chapel in July 1914. This one was a bit bigger, 9 feet long by 6 feet wide. But in 1923, the Bishop of Portsmouth came to visit. He couldn't even fit through the door! So, Déodat took down the second chapel too.
The third and current version of the chapel was started soon after. This one is 16 feet long and 9 feet wide. Sadly, Brother Déodat went to France in 1939 and passed away there. He never got to see his amazing chapel completely finished.
Looking After the Chapel
In 1977, a group was formed to help fix up the chapel. For a while, Blanchelande College helped take care of it. Today, the Little Chapel Foundation looks after this special building.
The chapel has faced some challenges. In 2003 and again in 2010, some people sadly damaged it. Five stained glass windows were broken in 2010, which cost a lot to repair.
In 2013, a lot of work was done to clear away overgrown plants. These plants were actually hiding parts of the chapel.
Recent Renovations
In November 2015, the chapel had to close for some major repairs. These repairs included strengthening the building's base and making sure it was protected from the weather. This work was expected to cost about £500,000. Many people helped raise money for these important repairs.
The chapel fully opened again to the public in April 2017. The big jobs, like making the foundations strong, are now finished. However, more money is still needed to complete the very last part of the renovation.
Chapel Decorations
The Little Chapel is famous for its unique decorations. It's covered with seashells, small stones (pebbles), and pieces of broken china. When you look at it from far away, the colors and design look beautiful. But when you get close, it's amazing to see all the tiny pieces used to create the artwork. The chapel is small inside, with room for about eight people.
The chapel became famous very quickly after an article about it appeared in the Daily Mirror newspaper. After that, people on the island started donating colored china. The Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey even offered mother of pearl. Gifts also came from all over the world!
The style of decoration is called "pique-assiette" or "Picassiette." This is a French term. It means that pieces of broken pottery, china, glass, buttons, and even jewelry are glued onto a surface to create a new design. You can use almost any shape as a base, and any mix of pieces. It's only limited by what the person creating it can imagine! This style was also used by a French artist named Raymond Isidore. He decorated his house near Chartres in a very similar way to the Little Chapel. His house is known as Maison Picassiette.
See also
In Spanish: Pequeña Capilla de Saint Andrew para niños
