GUERNSEY POST TO RELEASE QUARTET SERIES DEPICTING
GUERNSEY’S ‘LITTLE CHAPEL’
Stamps celebrating the centenary of Guernsey’s Little Chapel, one of the smallest chapels in the world, are to be released during 2023 by Guernsey Post.
Located in the valley of Les Vauxbelets in Guernsey, The Little Chapel is a truly unique structure. Standing just 16 feet by 9 feet and beautifully adorned with shells and pieces of broken china, it was the vision of Brother Déodat-Antoine and a true labour of love.
When Brother Déodat arrived at Les Vauxbelets in December 1913, he saw the wooded slope facing the valley below and immediately thought of creating a miniature replica of the famous grotto and Basilica of Massabielle at Lourdes in France.
Having demolished two previous versions of The Little Chapel, which were too small, in 1923 Brother Déodat began building The Little Chapel that stands today. It was a laborious operation involving the collection of many pebbles and broken china to decorate the shrine.
Déodat passed away in 1951 and although he was never able to enjoy the completed version of his life’s work, his Little Chapel has become a cherished site.
The Little Chapel Foundation was created in August 2016 after the Chapel was gifted to the Foundation by the De la Salle Brothers. Having suffered from structural decay for a number of years, the Foundation has worked tirelessly to bring The Little Chapel back to its former glory with the help of generous donations.
Bridget Yabsley, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post, said: - “We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate the centenary of the creation of The Little Chapel. It is an iconic landmark in Guernsey which has drawn crowds from around the world, thanks to its striking décor and unique beauty.
“During the course of this year we will release four stamps depicting The Little Chapel from different perspectives. With each stamp being priced at £1.50, our quartet series is a great introduction for those who are new to philately, enabling them to collect a complete series for an affordable price.
“We are very grateful for the assistance of The Little Chapel Foundation with our quartet series,” Bridget added.