Santa Margerita Chapel

Last updated
Santa Margerita Chapel
Santa Margerita Chapel, S. Gwann, Malta.jpeg
Façade of Santa Margerita Chapel
Religion
Affiliation Roman Catholic
RiteLatin
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Community Chapel
Year consecrated1618 (second time)
Location
Location San Gwann, Malta
Architecture
Type church building
Style Vernacular

Santa Margerita Chapel (English: Saint Margaret Chapel), also known as Arar Chapel, is a 16th century chapel in San Gwann, Malta. The chapel was built for the farmers working the surrounding fields. At the time, attacks from the sea were common.

Contents

The chapel was partially damaged during World War II, with serious damage but large portions surviving. Today the church is a landmark in San Gwann, in architectural contrast with the modern housing of the area.

History

The exact date when Saint Margerita Chapel was built is unknown but it was around the event of the Great Siege of Malta. It was mentioned for the first time in an inscription of Monsignor Pietro Dusina in 1575, when he was sent by the papacy to inspect the sparse chapels on the Maltese islands. He found the chapel to be the property of a local man named Salvu Calleja who made sure that a Mass took place in the chapel once a year on the feast day of St. Margaret. However, according to the standards of an inspecting Monsignor, it was not suitable to be a place of worship, as it was not well kept and had no door. He ordered that the chapel not be used until a door was attached to the entrance. [1]

In the inscription it is written: [2]

Sanctae Margaritae.
Visitavit etiam alliam Ecclesiam ruralem sub vocabulo Sanctae Margaritae in pertinentia Bircalcariae,
constructam in contrata Arar,
quae habet altare, caret portis ligneis, rectore,
introitibus, et omnibus alija necessarijs,
sed Salvus Calleja ex devotione sua in die festivitatis in eadem celebrari facit missam rantum.
Dominus mandavit non celebrari, nisi appositis portis ligneis, quibus Ecclesia decenter custodiatur.

Sta margerita Chapel.jpeg
Interior of the chapel

Saint Margaret Chapel was deconsecrated in 1605, since in the late 16th century and in the early 17th century attacks by the Ottoman Empire increased and the chapel fell into disuse. It was consecrated again in 1618 by Bishop Baldassare Cagliares. [1] Bishop Michele Girolamo Molina in 1658 observed that it suffered serious neglect while abandoned, and Father Giacomo Pullucino took the initiative to restore the chapel, [2] finishing in 1666. [3] Pullicino died in 1680 and was allowed to be buried inside the chapel, as documented by Bishop Miguel Juan Balaguer Camarasa, the parish priest of Birkirkara. [2] At the time San Gwann was a part of Birkirkara and consequentially San Gwann was originally part of Birkirkara parish, and ecclesiastical decisions were taken there. Following the death of Pullucino his family was also given permission to be interned in the chapel when they died. In 1680 Bishop Molina made a courtesy visit and offered Mass, as did Bishop Joaquín Canaves In 1718. [1]

Recent

The chapel as seen from the back Sta. Margerita Chapel.jpeg
The chapel as seen from the back
Showing the difference between the medieval stones and the 'new' reconstructed stones St margerita chapel.jpeg
Showing the difference between the medieval stones and the 'new' reconstructed stones

During World War II several families relocated to San Gwann from the Valletta and the surrounding cities and suburbs, for safety's sake. The chapel was directly hit during the war, destroying its ceiling and one of the side walls. After the war more families relocated to San Gwann as many of buildings in the cities had suffered serious damage. The chapel's damaged parts and original architecture were restored. [1] [4]

On the inauguration plaque it is written: [1]

Kappella Ta' Sta Margherita V.M.
Miftuha Ufficjalment Mill-Onor Michael Falzon
Ministru Ghall-Izvilupp U Ta' L-Infrasfruttura
Illum 21 Ta' Settembru 1990
Wara Li Sarilha Xoghol Ta' Restawr Estensiv
F' Eghluq Il-25 Sena Tal-Parocca Ta' San Gwann

A parish church dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes was built in the 1950s, replacing the chapel. Today the chapel is used for adoration, with Masses celebrated less frequently. It is sometimes used for the children of the local schools, for weddings and on the feast of Saint Margaret. [5] Traditionally the chapel was in the middle of farming fields and agricultural lands, but today it is in the middle of an urban zone. The chapel's building is used as a roundabout and stands proudly as a landmark on its own. In 1994 it was scheduled as a grade 1 national monument by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. [6] In 2003 a new monument by the name of Kolonna Eterna was installed just in front of the chapel. [3] The two monuments are in contrast, but complement each other in this central area of San Gwann. [7] [8]

Cultural Heritage

Santa Margerita Chapel is scheduled as a grade 1 national monument since 1994 by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA). [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Local councils of Malta</span> Subdivision of Malta

Since June 30, 1993, Malta has been subdivided into 68 localities, governed by local councils, Maltese: kunsilli lokali, meaning municipalities or borough. These form the most basic form of local government and there are no intermediate levels between it and the national level. The levels of the 6 districts and of the 5 regions serve statistical purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birkirkara</span> Local council in Central Region, Malta

Birkirkara is a city in the central region of Malta. It is the second most populous on the island, with 24,356 inhabitants as of 2020. The town consists of five autonomous parishes: Saint Helen, Saint Joseph the Worker, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Saint Mary and San Gorg Preca. The city's motto is In hoc signo vinces, and its coat of arms is a plain red cross, surmounted by a crown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mosta</span> Local council in Northern Region, Malta

Mosta is a small but densely populated city in the Northern Region of Malta. The most prominent building in Mosta is the Rotunda, a large basilica built by its parishioners' volunteer labour. It features the world's 3rd largest unsupported dome, and displays a replica of a German bombshell that famously crashed through the dome but did not detonate upon impact.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Ġwann</span> Local council in Central Region, Malta

San Ġwann is a town in the Central Region of Malta, with a population of 12,523 as of March 2014. Previous to its separate administration the town used to form part of two separate localities being Birkirkara and St. Julian's.

Santa Margarita, Spanish for Saint Margaret, may refer to:

Malta is the country with the most holidays in the European Union. Since 2005, any holidays falling on Saturdays or Sundays do not add an extra day to the workers' leave pool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Helen's Basilica</span> Church in Birkirkara, Malta

St Helen's Basilica is an 18th-century Roman Catholic church situated in Birkirkara, Malta. It is built on the baroque design by Salvu Borg and built by Mason Domenico Cachia. The design was inspired, and is similar, to the Mdina Cathedral by Lorenzo Gafa. It was built to replace the role of the main old Parish Church of St. Mary that was damaged in the 1856 earthquake. It eventually became the Collegiate Church and then a Minor Basilica. The current parish archpriest is Mons Louis Suban.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roads in Malta</span> Overview of the various roads in Malta

In Malta most of the main roads are in the outskirts of the localities to connect one urban area with another urban area. The most important roads are those that connect the south of the island with the northern part, like Tal-Barrani Road, Aldo Moro Street in Marsa and Birkirkara Bypass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tal-Wejter Tower</span>

Tal-Wejter Tower is a tower in Birkirkara, Malta, which was built in the early 18th century by the Order of Saint John. It is also known locally as it-Torri tal-Misħun, a reference to its machicolations which are known as galleriji tal-misħun in Maltese. The tower was partially demolished in the 1960s, but it was later rebuilt. Today, it is in a rather dilapidated state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kolonna Eterna</span> Obelisk in San Gwann, Malta

Kolonna Eterna, also known as the Millennium Monument, is a 21st-century monumental column in San Gwann, Malta. The column is an abstract art designed by Paul Vella Critien, a Maltese local artist that achieved his studies and experience in Italy and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ta' Ċieda Tower</span>

Ta' Ċieda Tower, also known as San Ġwann Roman Tower, is a Punic-Roman tower in San Ġwann, Malta. The exact origins of the tower could date back to pre-history with different architecture. It is argued that the tower could be of Punic origins rather than Roman but the latter have adapted it. The site of the tower was used as a cemetery, or more, during the Muslim caliphate in the medieval times. Following the expulsion of the Muslims in Malta a church dedicated to St. Helen was built on the site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ta' Xindi Farmhouse</span> Farmhouse, Headquarters, Residential in San Ġwann, Malta

Ta' Xindi Farmhouse, also known as the Ta' Xindi Headquarters and Kappara Outpost, is an 18th-century farmhouse built during the Order of St. John in San Ġwann, Malta. It was originally designed to be a farmhouse but went through different adaptive reuse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karin Grech Garden</span>

Karin Grech Garden, officially Karin Grech Playing Field, is a public garden and playing field in San Ġwann, Malta. The garden is named after Karin Grech, a letterbomb victim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Devil's Farmhouse</span> Farmhouse, Stables, Horse-riding school in Mellieha, Malta

The Devil's Farmhouse, also known in Maltese as Ir-Razzett tax-Xitan, and officially as Ir-Razzett Tax-Xjaten, is an 18th-century farmhouse in Mellieħa, Malta. The farmhouse features two unconnected buildings. The original scope for the buildings were to function as stables and a horse-riding school (Cavalerizza).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary Magdalene Chapel, Dingli</span> Church in Dingli, Malta

Saint Mary Magdalene Chapel is a Roman Catholic chapel in the limits of Dingli, Malta, dedicated to Mary Magdalene. It overlooks the Dingli Cliffs, and is therefore commonly known as il-kappella tal-irdum. The chapel was built in 1646 on the site of an earlier one which had existed since at least the 15th century. Its simple architecture is typical of Maltese wayside chapels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Cecilia Chapel</span> Church in Xewkija , Malta

The St Cecilia Chapel is a former Roman Catholic chapel in the limits of Xewkija, Gozo, Malta, dedicated to Saint Cecilia. It was built in around 1540, but it was deconsecrated in 1644, being converted into an ancillary building for the nearby Santa Cecilia Tower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapel of San Mikiel Is-Sanċir</span> Church in Rabat, Malta

The Chapel of St Michael more popularly known in Maltese as Il-Kappella tas-San Ċir or Il-Kappella ta' San Mikiel is Sanċir is a medieval chapel located in the limits of Rabat, Malta in an area referred to as Ġnien is-Sultan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapel of St Nicholas, Żonqor</span> Church in Marsaskala, Malta

The Chapel of Saint Nicholas, sometimes known as Tas-Subriċint, is a Roman Catholic chapel located in the Żonqor area between Marsaskala and Żabbar, Malta. A previous chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas was located in the area from at least the early 16th century, but it was deconsecrated in the 17th century. The present building was constructed between 1759 and 1762 in the Baroque style. Today, the chapel is located within the limits of Marsaskala, but it is administered by the parish of Żabbar.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Il-Kappella ta’ Sta Margerita “tal-Ħereb” - San Gwann", Kapelli Maltin - Maltese Chapels.
  2. 1 2 3 "San Gwann Malta".
  3. 1 2 3 Guillaumier, Alfie (2005). Bliet u Rħula Maltin (in Maltese). Santa Venera: Klabb Kotba Maltin. p. 737. ISBN   99932-39-40-2.
  4. "San Gwann", Malta-Canada.
  5. "Santa Margerita, San Gwann", Quddies.
  6. "Lista ta' kapelli skedati mil-MEPA mill-1994 sal-lum", Kapelli Maltin, p. 2.
  7. "New Monument", Times of Malta, 2003.
  8. "San Gwann", San Gwann Local Council, 2010.

Coordinates: 35°54′36″N14°28′37″E / 35.9100°N 14.4770°E / 35.9100; 14.4770