Dumfriesshire rural members and friends visit the Ukrainian Chapel at Hallmuir near Lockerbie

Daily Record

3 days ago

The group were given a warm welcome by Peter Kormylo before he gave a history of the chapel and a tour of the site which had once been a prisoner of war camp.
Members of the Four Towns SWI and their family and friends paid a visit to the Ukrainian Chapel at Hallmuir recently where they were given a warm welcome by Peter Kormylo.
The group went into the chapel and were amazed at the beautiful interior and those who had visited previously remarked that the renovation back to the whitewashed walls was superb.
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Peter explained that Italian prisoners of war had converted this barrack into a Roman Catholic chapel. The German prisoners who came later changed it to a Lutheran chapel.
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The Ukrainians who lived at Hallmuir from 1947 were not prisoners, they had surrendered and were a key part of the plan by UK and the Allies to be ready for a possible invasion by Stalin and Soviet troops. Later on they were classed as European Voluntary Workers who worked locally on farms and in forestry. They adapted the chapel to the Ukrainian style of Greek Orthodox Church and many of those men stayed on and married local girls to become part of the community.
Peter then led the group to the barrack that is being adapted to become a small museum. He gave a fascinating and informative power point presentation and enjoyed the reminiscences of some in the group who had interactions with Ukrainians and their families.
There is an open day on the last Sunday of each month and Peter gives a presentation at 2pm on those days and everyone present agreed they would recommend this to friends.
President, Norah Muirhead gave an ardent vote of thanks for such an interesting and educational visit.
Tea, coffee and biscuits were provided showing that Ukrainians and Scots have similar hospitable cultures.