Senglea

Nativity of Our Lady Parish Church

The Parish Church of Senglea, dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady, was probably built by architect Vittorio Cassar in 1580.  Senglea became a Parish in 1581 and towards the middle of the 17th century a new Parish Church, on a Latin cross plan, was built. Bishop Alpheran de Bussan consecrated this new Parish building on the 20th October 1743. On the 21st May 1786 Pope Pius VI declared the Church a Collegiate, while Pope Benedict XV on 3rd January 1921 honoured this Church with the title of Minor Basilica. After the solemn crowning of the statue of the Virgin Mary on the 4th September of the same year, by Archbishop Maurus Caruana O.S.B., the Parish Church of Senglea became a Marian Sanctuary. Unfortunately, this church was heavily bombed during the Second World War but was later rebuilt and consecrated anew by Archbishop Michael Gonzi on the 24th August 1957.

Blessed Sacrament

According to A Ferres, in 1866 there was another Oratory adjacent to the Parish Church. This was built in 1720 and was dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament and was in the care of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, which was founded around 1581.

Immaculate Conception

A chapel of this dedication existed in a conservatory, which was suppressed in 1866 according to A Ferres.

Our Lady of Porto Salvo

The church, dedicated to Our Lady of Porto Salvo was first built in 1596. In 1661, two priests and two deacons, led by Fr Simon Schembri, asked permission to take care of the church and live a community life, in an adjacent house, under the rule established by St Philip Neri for the Oratorians in Rome. In 1670, they demolished the old church and rebuilt it together with a friary next to it. By time, and since it was in the care of the Oratorians of St. Philip, its dedication to Our Lady was forgotten and it became commonly known as the church of St. Philip Neri. Although the Oratorians were those who took great care of both the church and the convent, the main responsibility for the administration of both was in the hands of the Archpriest pro tempore of Senglea. Bishop Vincenzo Labini consecrated this church on 22nd April 1781. During a cholera epidemic, in June 1837, the friary adjacent to the church, and the church itself, served as a hospital. Between 1943 and 1957, while the Parish Church was being rebuilt after WWII, this church served as the Senglea Parish Church. The Oratorians lacked vocations and eventually stopped functioning, so for fifty years, between 1958 and 2008, a Jesuit community was set up in the friary and eventually they also took care of the church, offering pastoral assistance to the people living in that area of Senglea. Unfortunately, the Jesuits also lacked vocations and it was impossible for them to sustain this community. Since October 20th 2008, a Salesian Community started living in the friary and, whilst taking care of the church, they opened a youth Oratory beneath the church. Marriages may be celebrated in this church.

Purification of Our Lady Candlora

This Oratory on the left hand side of the Parish Church, was built before 1636 by the Congregation of Ononati of Senglea, which was founded before 1622. It was built instead of a church dedicated to St.Roque and a cemetery for those who died of the plague. Here they used to celebrate both the seven Marian feasts as well as the Forty Hours Adoration apart from their weekly meetings. This oratory was rebuilt around 1729. Four pictures representing the Immaculate Conception, the Presentation in the Temple, the Annunciation and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin were placed on its walls. Today, these paintings by Rocco Buhagiar adorn the Vestry of the Parish Church. This Oratory was demolished by enemy action in WWII and was rebuilt in the 1950s. 

Holy Crucifix chapel:

A small chapel dug into the bastion of Senglea point. With Senglea bearing the brunt of WWII bombing, many sought refuge in other villages but some stayed. After the war, many devout survivors wanted to erect a memorial to the Holy Crucifix somewhere prominent. The place chosen was on the seafront in the bastions themselves. Plans were drawn and permission was asked of the authorities in 1945 but these were horrified that such a heritage place as the bastions should be altered. Permission was denied and again even for a fresh application in 1947. It was only by going through the right channels that a few years after that, that the plan was accepted with special conditions. In 1951 the ‘niche’ with an altar was ready and a crucifix taken in procession from the church of St Philip to be installed above the altar. Masses are still said here for the occasion of the national regatta every year with some even believing that the crucifix miraculous.

Holy Crucifix Oratory:

This Oratory which was built in 1731, was partly destroyed during WWII then eventually rebuilt in the 1950s. It is in the care of the Confraternity of the Holy Crucifix which was founded in 1715.

St. Anne

Chapel in the old ‘Ospizio Sant’Anna’ opened in 1817 for elderly women without means, and willed by Nicholas and Magdalene Dingli. When the building was still the home of the benefactors, the chapel was already their private oratory. Because of the age of the building without modern amenities, it had to be demolished with a new structure being completed in 1984. The titular painting of the old chapel depicting St Anne and St John Evangelist still exists. Since 1898, the Franciscan Sisters managed it, and today, while the Franciscan Sisters are no longer in charge of the place, the Church Commission for the Homes of the elderly administers it.

St. Julian

This is said to be the first building that ever existed in Senglea, even before it was named so. It was built in 1311 and altered in 1539 by Fra Diego Perez de Malfreire, who was architect of the Order of St John. It was rebuilt for the third time in 1710 following the plans laid by Lorenzo Gafa who kept the Malfreire proportion and design in the church facade. This is the building, which we can still see today. In 1729, a small bell cot with two bells was removed from the facade, and a four-sided belfry was built instead on the side facing Two Gates Street. Since it was in very dilapidated state, in 1998, this belfry was pulled down and rebuilt in conformity to its original measurements and design. A small bellcot on top of the facade was rebuilt after 70yrs.  One of the bells here dates back to 1723. Marriages may be celebrated in this church which nowadays is used for Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

St.John Baptist & St.Michael Archangel

After WWII a new Chapel for the British forces was opened at St.Michael's Bastion abreast of No.3 Dock. On Thursday 24th June 1948, the Nativity of St. John Baptist, a service of dedication of this new Chapel was held. This Chapel was closed down when the Royal Naval dockyard was terminated at the time the British forces were reducing their presence on Malta. The facilities were handed over to a private company C.H. Bailey.