Zebbug

St.Philip Parish Church

Haz Zebbug Malta was a parish before 1436 the first church being built earlier with the money donated by the Sicilian Filippo in 1380 and finished in 1412. The present church was built between 1599 and 1632 and enlarged by Tommaso Dingli in 1660. The side aisles were added in 1913. Dedication date: 13th May 1729. On the right side of the church is an Oratory, which used to serve as a chapel but nowadays is used for storage.

Annunciation

This church, built before 1575, was the venue of a procession, which used to leave the parish church on the feast of the Annunciation, when Mass was then celebrated there by the parish priest. Though ordered closed down by the Bishop in 1658, in 1667 it was still in use. Fr Julius Zammit, nephew of Fr Mariano Zammit, rebuilt this church between 1693 and 1699. The heirs of Fr Mariano (who was buried in this Church), provided a bequest for its maintenance recorded in the acts of Notary Benedetto Vassallo in 1696. It is well frequented by the public though Mass is celebrated here only once a year. 

Assumption Ta' Galtier

This church, which stood on the road leading to Mdina, was founded and endowed by Giacomo Agius before 1575. Its name is derived from the nickname of Pietro Agius, a relative of the founder. In 1667 this church was canonically deconsecrated.

Assumption Ta' Mamo

This church is one of the architectural jewels by Lorenzo Gafa. The original chapel was dedicated to Our Saviour when first built in 1514 by Xmun Mamo. This church was rebuilt in 1608 but just fifty years after that, it was deconsecrated and rebuilt as we see it nowadays, except for the belfry added in 1845.

Assumption Ta' Mania

A small Assumption church was built after the plague of 1592-93 near the one dedicated to St.Roque. Giovanni Pisani rebuilt it between 1598 and 1608 through an endowment. Though it was closed for liturgical worship in 1658, it continued to function as Cleric Saviour Balzan promised to look after its needs. In fact, in 1685 he himself bequeathed an endowment for its upkeep, the deed being recorded by Notary Antonio Pullicino when it had just been rebuilt on a plan prepared by Lorenzo Gafa. Paschal Buhagiar painted its altarpiece. It was still standing in 1866 according to A Ferres' list. 

Assumption Hal Muxi

In 1575, popular devotion looked after the needs of this church. In 1608, its structure was too old and its closing down was imminent but some repairs must have been carried out because it continued to function. Angelo D'Amato, sometime before 1658, made an endowment for the celebration of the seven feasts of Our Lady in this church, and a few years later presented a new altarpiece. By 1723, a new church had been built replacing the old one. Everyday Mass is celebrated here nowadays.

Cenacolo Cenacle

This is a modern Perpetual Adoration Chapel and is open 7.00am to 9.30pm daily. 

Chapel Hal Mula

Ms Angela Xuereb left her farmhouse property to be used for religious purposes. The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary built a chapel at the site in 1980. It serves the population of the area.

Holy Crucifix
An oratory of this dedication stands adjacent to the right side of the parish church of St Philip.

Immaculate Conception Ta Scamardi

Built in 1677 by Giovanni Azzopardi, it is also known as the Annunciation. Together with his son, Fr Gio Paolo, Giovanni provided it with sufficient endowment for its maintenance as detailed in the records of Notary Benedetto Vassallo in 1677. It is built in a beautiful Doric style with a magnificent ceiling, but sadly nowadays it just serves as a store for the local feast decorations. 

Our Lady tal-Abbandunati

This church commonly known as tal-Abbandunati - Our Lady of the Abandoned was built in 1758 by Father Paschal Azzopardi in Hal Dwin, now part of Zebbug. He also endowed it with an ecclesiastical living in 1758. Notary Girolamo Bonavita recorded this deed. Inside one can find the remains of St.Innocent. This church belongs to the family of Manduca Azzopardi who lately had it up for sale with Sotheby’s together with the adjoining palazzetto.

Our Lady of the Angels

Built through the efforts of Fr.M.Buttigieg (who had left the medical profession to take Holy Orders) on G.A.Psaila's plan and finished in 1787, this church was blessed by Bishop Labini. The titular and only picture is by Rocco Buhagiar. It has two sacristies, one on each side, and a dome, which was recently restored. 

Our Lady of the Eucharist

This is a recently built pastoral centre. Sometimes Mass is celebrated here. The statue of Our Lady on the altar was donated and it has a monstrance for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, hence the name given.

Our Lady of Grace ta' Godor

In 1575, Angelo Attard, the owner of the field in which an Assumption church was situated, looked after its needs. In 1615 it was falling in ruins and were it not for the intervention of Simon Attard, who offered to rebuild it, it would have been totally lost. This work was completed before 1621, and from this date onwards its dedication was changed to Our Lady of Grace, however its feast, till 1776 continued to be celebrated on the 15th August. During that year permission was given for the feast to be held on the 8th September as the Assumption feast was commemorated both at the parish church itself and in another small church at Zebbug . Near the church is a statue of Our Lady dating from 1843.

Our Lady of Light ta' Cassis Nardu

Fr Leonardo Bonavia was the founder of a church dedicated to the Visitation, built before 1575. Although Bishop Fra Tomaso Gargallo sanctioned its canonical deconsecration in 1588, it was still open to public worship till 1658. During that year however it was definitively closed. The parish priest and members of the clergy, during the Pastoral Visit of 1736, requested the Bishop to authorize its rebuilding, they also presented a plan for the new church. On giving his approval, Bishop Alpheran also agreed that this new church was to be dedicated to Our Lady of Light, its feast being held on the second Sunday of November. The existing church dates from 1738 and was blessed in 1740. In WWII some damage was caused to the belfry but it was repaired soon after the war. The locals who see to all its needs hold this church in great veneration.

Our Lady of Sorrows

This octagonal church was built by Dr Baldassare Debonis in 1740 on a site previously occupied by another church dedicated to the Assumption. He also endowed it with an ecclesiastical living providing for its upkeep as detailed in the records of Notary Ignatius Debono on the 5th November 1714. The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows was held here on Friday preceding Palm Sunday, while on each first Friday of the month a special service including a sermon used to take place. Baldassare died five years later and was buried in it. It was given the title of Basilica by Pope Benedict XIII. It has two side doors and is very ornate from the outside having a small parvis overlooking the street. The altar is made of marble. Mass is celebrated here on each of the seven feasts of Mary.  In front of this church, a space is used for Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, called The Cenacle.

Our Lady Security from the Fire of Hell

A church, in honour of Our Lady in this unusual title was built at Zebbug through the bounty of Fra Marino Buttigieg who also endowed it with an ecclesiastical benefice, which received ecclesiastical approval in 1778. The Sodality of Priests, established at Zebbug, was left in charge of this church as specified in its founder's last will.

Purification of Our Lady Hal Dwin

Nicholas Galea endowed this church and looked after its needs in 1575. On its feast day, the parish priest, clergy and people of Zebbug used to go in procession to this church, where Mass was celebrated. When it was closed to public worship, its altarpiece was transferred to the parish church where, according to documents, it was still hanging in 1672. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus

This Sanctuary, opened in 1986 for the spiritual welfare of the population in the area, has ample parking space and lies on the north side of Zebbug on the road to Rabat.

St Bartholomew

According to A Ferres, a church of this dedication existed in the limits of Zebbug in 1780, but by the time he was writing his list in 1866, the church did not survive.

St Blaise.

In a refurbished therapeutic community for males, there is a small modern chapel.

St.George

In the area of Wied Qirda, a church dedicated to St.George was being restored in 1575 according to Mons.Dusina's report. Sadly this chapel is nowadays lost. 

St James

Built in 1430 and rebuilt in 1675, this wayside chapel lies in a country road half way to Mdina. In recent times, a small bell cot with a cross on top of the facade was removed for safety reasons.

St John Bosco

A chapel in the boys' elementary school

St.Joseph

Built in 1794, this chapel was part of a small hospital for elderly people in Zebbug. Later on the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart became responsible for the running of the hospital, which also included an orphanage. Later they turned it into a home for a small number of elderly women. At one time it fell out of use but presently it was refurbished with the intent of opening an upscale retirement home. For a retirement home the chapel's actual name of The Death of St Joseph (titular painting by Francesco Zahra) sounds a little incongruous. 

St Joseph
A chapel in the premises of the Band Club of the same name.

St Publius
A chapel within the sacristy of the parish church of St Philip is dedicated to St Publius.

St.Roque

Built during the plague of 1592 by Tommaso and Katerina Vassallo, this chapel is 24ft long and was in use up to 1959. In 1980 it was given to the society 'Din l-Art Helwa' which took care to restore it and change it into a cultural museum for the town. The ceiling is held up by a set of three arches. 

Visitation Wied Qirda

In 1575 Nicholas Vassallo, who owned the garden within which this church was built, was duty bound to look after its needs. The conventual chaplain Fra Gio.Fee Abela, had particular devotion towards this church. In 1621, it was stated that he used to visit it very frequently and provided for its maintenance. Sometime before 1634 a new altarpiece was made. Cleric Bartolomeo Magro rebuilt this church in 1675.  Its founder was buried in it in 1722. It contains a statue of St.Anthony which is very popular with the population. The titular picture done by Suor Maria De Domenico is kept in the sacristy of the Parish church but the rest of the paintings have been lost. The church itself was fast deteriorating until lately when a couple donated the funds for some restoration and celebrated their marriage vows there.