POLL: Do you want a Little Chapel Cafe?

Thursday 14 February 2019

As one of Guernsey's premier tourist attractions, The Little Chapel attracts thousands of visitors a year and it's been suggested they could need some facilities built for them, to help pay for the upkeep of the historic church.

The team behind the restoration works have said a cafe, gift shop and toilets should be built to encourage people to stay longer in the area while spending money, which could then be spent maintaining the Chapel, and the surrounding areas.

The Clockmakers adjacent to The Little Chapel already allows customers and other passers by to use its toilet facilities and it offers refreshments to those who want to buy an ice cream or drink.

If a cafe and gift shop is built, with more toilet facilities, it could lead to two businesses operating out of the same small area, which historically has always been very quiet.

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The restoration work at The Little Chapel has so far cost £350,000, costing around £5,000 per month to keep the momentum going.

It used to be owned by the De La Salle Brothers, who were responsible for the land on which Brother Deodat built his tiny church out of broken crockery. In 2016 the Brothers gifted the Chapel to Guernsey and The Little Chapel Foundation was set up to fundraise to pay for the initial restoration work and the ongoing maintenance costs.

Pictured: The little Chapel website has information on its history and plans for its future. 

The Little Chapel Foundation says the restoration work should be finished by Easter now, with thanks given again to the "huge amount of time and work that has been freely given or at reduced rates by local tradesmen and professionals."

However, the Foundation says once the work is finished, "it is imperative that we have on ongoing maintenance plan. We must avoid any risk of the chapel becoming derelict once again due to lack of regular maintenance."

With the Little Chapel always relying on donations to pay for any maintenance work, The Little Chapel Foundation wants to build on the number of visitors, saying they are "determined to create an unforgettable experience for visitors who come from around the world. Everyone living In Guernsey should take pride in their ownership of this iconic building. To paraphrase a well-known TV slogan...Love It or Lose It!"

To try and attract more donations, the Foundation, led by Jack Honeybill, will be approaching all businesses in the Hospitality sector to enlist their support through collection boxes or corporation sponsorship.

Pictured: Jack Honeybill who had dedicated his time over the last two years to helping preserve Guernsey's beloved Little Chapel. 

If the campaign is successful one of the Foundation's aims is to create access paths for visitors with disabilities. 

So far businesses including Gusto, Da Nello, J B Parker’s, The Hideaway, Red, The Old Government Hotel and The Duke of Richmond Hotel, La Grande Mare Hotel and Golf club, Café Amelia, Mora, Balthazar, Le Nautique, Muse, Village East, Coco, The Boathouse, Les Douvres, The Captains, Dix Neuf and The Queens Hotel have all signed up.  

Pictured top: The Little Chapel.