The Maltese islands’ strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean was coveted by the Axis and firmly defended by the Allies during WWII.
Because of the action around North Africa and the several airports and harbours full of British weapons, ships and planes on Malta, the islands were mercilessly bombed and while a few stray bombs fell at random on villages it was especially intense where vessels and planes were to be found. With these targets, the nearby towns and of course our churches suffered. This section is about how some of our churches and chapels fared during the course of the war, some being partially damaged with the bombing, others totally razed, others with near misses and still a few put to use for war purposes. Some, with permission from the ecclesiastical authorities were dismantled by the British forces for extensions to airports and suchlike war requirements.
Many churches were rebuilt or repaired after the war, some on a different plan, but some smaller ones and minor chapels were sadly lost forever.
ATTARD:
Annunciation (Hal Warda):
After being hit by enemy bombs in 1942 it was condemned as a building. It was completely demolished by 1962.
Nativity of Our Lady ta' Djar Zara or Tal-Kaccatur:
It was heavily hit by bombs in WWII but the image of the Virgin venerated in the church did not suffer any damage. The church was rebuilt in 1956 and it soon became a centre of devotion again.
Our Saviour:
In 1942 it received a direct hit during an enemy bombing raid. The stone altar and some foundations of this octagonal church could still be seen up to the late 1950’s.
BIRGU:
Parish Church of St Lawrence:
The original dome of Gafa' in this church was destroyed by enemy action during WWII, the present one being built on the plan of Prof.Galea and inaugurated in 1954. Other losses suffered during the war include the side chapel of the Blessed Sacrament built in 1786 by Baroness Francesca Viani. It was rebuilt in 1951.
Annunciation:
In 1941 the church and attached convent were destroyed by enemy action, the present convent being re-occupied by the Dominican Friars in December 1954 after rebuilding.
Holy Trinity:
It was completely destroyed by enemy bombing in WWII but rebuilt in 1962-3.
Our Lady Of Carmel:
When it was destroyed during World War II a substantial part of the original on St.Lawrence Street was still standing and was kept after rebuilding. The wall and facade are now identical elevations to the original.
Our Lady of Sorrows (also known as the Crucifix Chapel):
This Oratory received considerable damage during the war and had to be rebuilt.
St.Anthony:
This chapel used to be situated in Triq ic-Centinarju until it was destroyed by enemy action in WWII.
St.Joseph Oratory:
Known as Our Lady of Damascus it suffered great damage in the Second World War but was restored afterwards.
St.Leonard:
Two churches, one large and one small used to exist both dedicated to St.Leonard. Both were destroyed by enemy action in WWII though we still have some of their contents, which are now in the Parish church.
St.Nicholas:
Greek chapel totally destroyed by WWII enemy action. Nowadays a plaque marks the location on the part of the facade that is still standing.
St.Philip Neri:
Also known as Our Lady of the Angels, this church suffered damage during WWII but although it was repaired, it is kept closed nowadays.
Anglican chapel:
This was situated at the wharf, very close to Fort St Angelo. It was destroyed in the air raids of World War II.
BIRZEBBUGA:
St.Angelo:
Being close to the old wartime airport of Hal Far, this church was completely lost to enemy bombing during WWII.
BORMLA:
Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception:
During World War II, the church was at the heart of enemy air raids very close Dock Number 1 used for submarine repair. Fearing the church would be bombed, the congregation removed the titular picture and statue and took them to Birkirkara for safe keeping. They made a vow that if the church did not perish, a pilgrimage would be held, bringing back the picture and statue. After cessation of raids, the Pilgrimage was held on the 19 November 1944, by multitudes of people from all over the islands.
Between 1953 and 1955, as part of reconstruction, the bombed buildings which were in front of the parvis of the Church were removed and a parvis and access road were built.
Chapel:
The Franciscan Sisters convent and school were totally destroyed by bombs during WWII, but were rebuilt so that the sisters could continue their mission of educating and teaching children.
Sacred Heart: (Dockyard Chapel)
The Dockyard Chapel built during early British rule continued to be used until WWII in June 1940 when buildings housing it were badly damaged in an air raid and made it unusable.
St.John Almoner: (T'Ghuxa)
This church was extensively damaged during WWII. It has been restored but not in use.
St.Joseph:
The present Church and buildings are post WWII. The Ursuline sisters run the complex.
FLORIANA:
St.Publius: Parish Church
It was hit by enemy bombing during WWII and part of the facade and the dome were demolished. Everything was reconstructed after the war.
Flight to Egypt:
With its exposed location at the harbourfront it too suffered war damage and was restored.
Holy Cross:
The Capuchin church and friary were heavily bombed during WWII but rebuilt by 1955.
St.Roque:
Built in an exposed position on top of the bastions, it was destroyed by enemy action during WWII. Part of one of its walls and the stone altar with the 8 pointed cross of the knights survived and in 2014 it was rebuilt as part of the restoration of the bastions.
GZIRA:
St.Anthony:
The chapel of St Anthony in Fort Manoel received a direct hit during WWII and was only restored in recent years together with its crypt using as much of the original as possible with new areas being left plain without sculpture.
KALKARA:
St.Joseph: Parish Church
Enemy bombing demolished the church during WWII except for a belfry and a new church of the same dedication was built in a more central position this time with a dome but no belfries.
Our Saviour:
This chapel lies within Salvatore Gate, an old entrance to Kalkara and part of the Cottonera fortifications. It has been abandoned ever since it was hit during WWII and one can still see the hole in the ceiling made by the bomb. Many frescoes still exist, nearly intact, but at present the fort is in private hands and so it is difficult to look into the restoration of this chapel.
Sta.Barbara:
The convent and the bell tower suffered damage during WWII, but were rebuilt soon afterwards.
LUQA:
St.Andrew: Parish Church
This parish church was extensively ruined by enemy bombing during WWII it being so close to the main airport. It was rebuilt between 1945 and 1954.
Chapel:
During WWII, all over Malta, Air raid shelters were hewn out of solid rock. In many instances, a small room was reserved as a chapel. One can be found at the Luqa public shelters with its altar forming part of the rock itself. One entrance to this public shelter was discovered by young members of the local band club in the cellar of the premises. The titular sculpture over the altar was missing but the youths traced it to a family. One of the members of this family who was the sculptor himself, had removed it after the war. These youths sought permission to take a cast of the original and place it over the altar. Andre Zammit who was one of the youths who made the discovery gave this information.
Nativity of Our Lady: Hal Farrug
In 1941 Governor Dobbie asked Bishop Caruana for permission to dismantle it to make way for another runway and gave the church funds to build a replacement.
Our Lady of Carmel:
It was demolished in 1942 to make way for another airport runway. The present chapel was built in another spot with the money given as compensation.
St.Christopher:
With the commencement of WWII in September 1939, Luqa airport became a Royal Air Force Station and most of the civilian employees left. During the toughest time in November 1942 the number of personnel at Luqa Station was 4,350 Airmen, 770 Soldiers and 600 civilians. After the end of the War in January 1948 an extensive building program of the area began with the erection of Barrack Blocks, Married Quarters for over eighty families, and an Airmen's Mess. Later on, two Churches were added. It was decided to build a Station Church at the entrance to what was known as the Domestic Site and by March 1955 the church was ready for use. Dedicated to St.Christopher, it was built for use by members of the Church of England and the Free Church.
Nativity of Our Lady:
A Roman Catholic Church dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady was also built on the Domestic Site at the Airport around WWII. Unlike St.Christopher, Marriages were not performed here for service personnel.
MARSA:
Assumption: Ta' Ceppuna
This old Medieval church lay derelict for a long time. Hit by enemy bombs in WWII, it was restored in the early 2000's and is at present in the care of the Capuchin friars who officiate in it.
Our Lady of Grace: ta' Cejlu
It was hit by enemy action in WWII but was restored post wartime. It is under the care of the Franciscans Minor.
MOSTA:
Assumption: Parish Church
During WWII when a sizeable congregation was praying in this rotunda, a bomb was dropped which pierced the ceiling but did not explode or hit anyone. A replica now stands in the sacristy with pictures of the hole in the ceiling
Immaculate Conception: ta' Andar il-blat (Derimblat)
It was rebuilt in 1965 after it had been dismantled in WWII and its stones used at Ta Qali airfield to protect aircraft.
Our Lady of Loreto: (at the location of the old Ta Qali aiport)
Dedicated to Our Lady of Loreto, it was built by members of the Aviation museum on their actual grounds in 2012. In it were installed plaques in memory of some of the airmen who lost their lives at the Ta Qali aerodrome which incidentally was one of the hardest hit places during WWII.
Visitation: Tal-Wejda
The existing structure is the one that was rebuilt after destruction by bombs during WWII, it being too close to Ta' Qali airfield.
Chapel:
This old chapel in the form of a nissen hut existed until the 1950s, at the wartime airport of Ta Qali. It was used by service personnel. It boasted a small stone! bell in a bellcot surely used only as decoration.
MQABBA:
Assumption: Parish Church
The present church being close to the main airport of Luqa, was severely damaged in April 1942 by enemy bombing, with the dome, transept and sacristy being demolished. Rebuilding and restoration work lasted till 1947.
NAXXAR:
St.John Baptist:
Not a war casualty at all but in WWII it housed refugees.
QORMI:
St.Francis de Paul:
During WWII it was requisitioned from the family who owned it and served as a food store.
QRENDI:
St.Matthew:
In 1942 the larger church suffered extensive bomb damage and some of the soldiers billeted there were seriously wounded. Right after the war, it was rebuilt and two small belfries added.
SAN GWANN:
St.Margaret: tal-Imsierah
During WWII it was ruined by enemy action but was rebuilt and opened for use in 1990.
SAN PAWL:
St.John Baptist: Wardija - tal-Hereb
During WWII the adjacent retreat house was hit and demolished but not the church.
St.Paul Shipwrecked: tal-Hgejjeg
Seriously damaged by enemy action in WWII, the church was reconstructed to the original design of Cassar, re-opened and blessed in 1956. Its paintings were saved because they were moved to a safer place for the duration of the war.
SENGLEA:
Nativity of Our Lady: Parish Church
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.
Reconstruction 1951
Our Lady of Porto Salvo:
Between 1943 and 1957, while the Parish Church was being rebuilt after WWII, this church served as the Senglea Parish Church.
Purification of Our Lady: Candlora
This Oratory on the left hand side of the Parish Church was demolished by enemy action in WWII and was rebuilt in the 1950s.
Holy Crucifix chapel:
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 is miraculous.
Holy Crucifix Oratory:
This Oratory was partly destroyed during WWII then eventually rebuilt in the 1950s.
SIGGIEWI:
Holy Family:
This oratory was was hit by enemy bombing in a WWII air raid. Rebuilt after the war, it is now used as a store for parish church furnishings.
St.Charles Borromeo: Girghenti - Inquisitor's palace
In WWII it was used as one of the stores for the National Museum's collection of antiquities and art.
SLIEMA:
St.Mary Star of the Sea: Parish Church
During WW II it was hit by enemy bombing but the damage was soon repaired.
Jesus Of Nazareth: Parish Church
After suffering some bomb damage during WWII, it was rebuilt with a facade on a different plan.
St.Luke Garrison church:
This Garrison Church was badly damaged by enemy action in WWII, so the troops attended the services at the Holy Trinity church. Shortly after WWII St. Luke's had been repaired and re-opened.
VALLETTA:
St.John’s Co-Cathedral:
This main cathedral suffered only slight cosmetic damage in WWII when a block right across the road was hit. A mass grave of the knights who died during the Great Siege on the left side did not fare so well and had to be restored after the war.
Our Lady of Carmel:
The present church, whose dome is so imposing on the Valletta skyline, was started in 1958 after the previous edifice was demolished by enemy action in WWII.
Two Oratories used to exist attached to the old church: One dedicated to Our Lady of Carmel and one to St Joseph. Only the one of Our Lady of Carmel was rebuilt after the war.
Our Lady of Damascus: Melkite Greek Rite
The present 'Damascena' church is in Byzantine style and was inaugurated in 1951 to replace the previous building lost to enemy bombing during WWII.
Our Lady of Liesse:
Built close to the harbourfront, it was partly ruined in 1942 by enemy bombing but restored in 1952.
Our Lady of Mercy:
During WWII this chapel took a direct hit during enemy action and the dangerous ruins demolished in 1953. The Our Lady Of Mercy chapel still kept an access to the Annunciation crypt called The chapel of Bones which has not been checked if it has survived or not.
St.Augustine:
This Parish church on Bakery Street was partly demolished in an air raid but reconstructed after the war.
St.John Baptist:
The 19th century chapel of the Grandmasters' Palace, has a unique Filippo Paladini fresco (badly damaged during the WWII) showing the life of St.John Baptist, and also a beautiful wooden ceiling. This and the fresco were restored in 2006.
St.Nicholas: Tal-Erwieh
The church suffered considerable bombing damage during WWII and was repaired by 1951.
St.Ursola:
It suffered heavy damage by enemy bombing in WWII but was rebuilt afterwards.
St.George:
This Greek Orthodox church was destroyed by enemy bombing in WWII and never rebuilt as a church.
ZABBAR:
St.Andrew - St.Dominica: Twin churches
St Dominica was built in 1954 replacing a Siculo-Norman chapel that was almost completely destroyed during WWII. it has a 16th Century apse. The older chapel was decorated with beautiful frescos; the central fresco was saved and is preserved in the Sanctuary Museum.
St.Nicholas: Taz-Zonqor
The chapel was partially damaged during WWII but restored post wartime.
ZEBBUG:
Our Lady of Light: ta' Cassis Nardu
In WWII some damage was caused to the belfry of this church but it was repaired soon after the war.
Our Lady of Sorrows:
This church had a near miss during an air raid when a mine was dropped hitting the building behind it but sparing the church.
ZEJTUN:
Nativity of Our Lady: Hal Tmim
In WWII it was damaged at the back and sadly repaired in concrete instead of in the original material and style.
XAGHARA -GOZO:
St Anthony:
Even on the island of Gozo did the enemy release some bombs. St Anthony’s church in Xaghara took a hit but was rebuilt after the war, though not with an arched roof like it was before. this was corrected a few years ago when they restored the arches of the roof as they originally were.