Italian Chapel, Lamb Holm

The Italian Chapel, located on Lamb Holm, was built between 1942 and 1944 by Domenico Chiocchetti and others. It consists of two Nissen huts joined end-to-end and presenting as a single, gable-fronted building. The structure has a pedimented entrance porch, a bellcote rising from the gable apex, and fleur-de-lys pinnacled buttresses. The exterior is cement rendered over corrugated-iron.

The east (principal, entrance) elevation features Doric columns supporting a pediment displaying a red clay roundel depicting the head of Christ. Doric pilasters flank a recessed boarded door, and a mosaic panel marks the date 'A D MCMXLIV'. A pointed-arched bellcote has a wrought-iron balustrade and a crocketted pediment. A cast-iron Celtic cross is positioned at the gablehead, with pointed arched narrow windows located on either side of the entrance door.

The north and south side elevations are long, two-bay structures, each bay containing evenly spaced, flat-roofed dormers.

Fixed, timber-framed windows contain painted glass. A modern felt barrel vaulted roof covers the interior.

Inside, the nave and sanctuary are elaborately painted by Chiocchetti and others, separated by a triple-arched wrought-iron screen created by Palumbo. The nave is lined with plasterboard painted to resemble brickwork. Around the east windows, the walls are painted to create the impression of plaster fields filled with gothic trefoil arches and motifs, with gothic roundels in the ceiling. The east end's door and windows are flanked by painted, vine-covered columns and imitation carved stone panels. A dado is painted to mimic carved stone panels. The sanctuary, further decorated by Domenico Chiocchetti, includes an altarpiece depicting the Madonna and Child, copied from Nicolo Barabino. Flanking windows depict St Francis of Assisi and St Catherine of Siena, respectively. The vault ceiling is painted to resemble fielded plasterwork, revealing a depiction of a celestial sky. Painted trefoil niches showcase the four evangelists with cherubim and seraphim below. Features include a lined cement floor, a moulded concrete altar, altar rail, font, and holy water stoop. Fourteen timber-carved stations of the cross, gifted in 1964, adorn the walls. Additional details include gold sanctuary curtains, purpose-made iron and brass candelabra, and a timber tabernacle.

A cement statue of St George slaying the dragon, raised on a painted, panelled and corniced plinth, is situated to the west of the chapel entrance. It is inscribed 'D di C, ITALIANI, Li 7-8-1943'.