Did you know the world’s smallest chapel is found Uganda? Though not yet recognized by the Guiness world book of Records, this wonder is located in Nebbi district, the North west of Uganda, perched on Biku hill, 18km from the town of Nebbi. The church has a width of 2.5m and a height of 2.4m which is just big enough to accommodate a priest and 2 more people. It was established in 1996 and named after the retired Ugandan Arch Bishop, Henry Luke Orombi and a Korean National Pastor named Song. The chapel, though it appears small it was built to last at least 5 centuries with 79 bags of cement.
The church was constructed with the aim of providing spiritual healing for individuals as well as the church. It was the hope of the founders that those who come to this chapel will be able have special personal encounters with God to become bold soldiers of the gospel. Nine prayer points are given as a guide to help people pray, praise and meditate of the word of God.
Prayer Point one: The big cross at the hilltop
Prayer Point 2: Is a small building with 12 windows on the western and eastern sides that represent Jesus’s 12 disciples. Here, pilgrims are encouraged to pray for countries neighboring Uganda including The Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya for Peace and Revival. This point offers the visitor panoramic views of Namrwodho Falls which is a habitat of the rare shoebill stork.
Prayer Point 3: Constructed in the shape of the map of Africa with two entrances. This point features 10 windows symbolizing 10 commandments that God gave to Moses on mount Sinai.
Prayer Point 4: Prayer Points 4, 5 & 6 are situated in the gardens. Prayer point four is constructed in the from of a heart symbolizing Christ’s love towards humanity. Point 4 is made of a cross made with 33 stones that signify the 33 years that Jesus Christ spent here on the earth.
Prayer Point 5: This is constructed in the form an arrowhead representing youth speed.This point ismade of 66 windows that symbolize the 66 books of the Bible. The windows are distributed in such a way as to signify the Old and New Testaments. 39 of them are positioned at the back and these signify the Old Testament, while 27 windows are positioned at the front which imply the New Testament. The point has 3 doors shaped to look like a man standing upright which represents those who are equipped with the word of God.
Prayer Point 6: This prayer point is constructed in the form of an altar and is made of stunning rugged stones. This alter signifies that the church is a living offering to Christ’s mission on earth while the rugged stones on the cross serve to show that Christians are living stones.
Prayer Point 7: This is Constructed in the shape of a globe at the back of a huge rock with an open-ended cave at its base. To pray from here, you would need to crawl from one end of a dark cave to the other. This undertaking in this TIJNNEL takes approximately 5 minutes. This allows one take just a small part in Christ’s suffering for our sins figuratively.
Prayer Point 8: This is Bethel Chapel itself. The chapel has 12 windows at its entrance representing the 12 stones on Aaron’s breast plate that represented the 12 tribes of Israel. The Church ceiling comprises 7 beams used to demonstrate the 7 colours of the rainbow which is first mentioned in the Bible when God made a covenant with Noah to never destroy the world with floods again.
The Eastern window of the chapel allows one to view the cross placed high on a rock formation at Prayer point one giving an opportunity to Christians to look up to Jesus the author and finisher of their Faith.
Prayer Point 9
Another prayer point, found in the vicinity of the chapel is shaped in the form of the womb marks Point No.9. and then your journey at Biku hill culminates at the main chapel with a capacity of at least 400 people. Aside from the prayers, Biku hill is teeming with baboons and monkeys in the bush and trees surrounding the hill. All in all Biku hill makes a perfect retreat for one looking to meditate away from the hustle and bustle of life.
