Central Guernsey

• The Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles to be occupied by German forces in WWII. To gain an understanding of the effect of this five-year occupation on the islanders, we spent several hours of a rainy Monday in the German Occupation Museum. There we learned of the hardships the islanders endured living with the occupiers, being cut off entirely from the rest of their country and the near starvation conditions in the last year of occupation.
  

  

  Born of a private collection of war memorabilia, the museum excels at conveying personal insights and experiences. It is not simply a collection of wartime hardware.
  

  

  
  Not far from this museum is the Little Chapel, one of the smallest chapels in the world --- if not THE smallest --- with inside dimensions of about 15 x 9 feet:
  

  

  In 1913, a De La Salle Brother named Deodat Antoine formulated a plan to build a miniature version of the famous grotto and basilica at Lourdes, France. It took three tries. He tore down his first attempt after it was harshly criticized. In like manner, he destroyed his second version because the bishop could not fit through its tiny entrance to complete its dedication. His third attempt stands today. He was unable to personally finish it due to failing health when he returned to France in 1939; however, others completed it for him.
  

  

  The basic structure is of clinker bonded with cement. (Clinker is a by-product of greenhouse furnaces once common on the island.) Nearly every square inch, except the roof and foundation walls, is ornately decorated with seashells, pebbles and colorful bits of broken china and glass:
  

  

  The Chapel’s diminutive size is apparent below with Patty standing right next to it:
  

  

  Complemented with stained glass windows, the overall result is very pleasing to the eye. In case you wondered, the Chapel can accommodate a congregation of just eight people.
  

  

  The guardianship of the Little Chapel now rests with the private Girls College behind it which is run by a charitable trust. The pupils and all those connected with the school play a part in looking after this treasure in their back yard.
  
  The Chapel is located on a slope facing this pasture which adds to the peacefulness of the scene. There is no big parking lot here!
  

  

  It was also reassuring to us to see that there really are Guernsey cows on their home turf.