The oldest chapel in St Julians is crying out for restoration and is in a dangerous state, especially the belfry which saw the bronze bell being dislodged when the iron beam holding it broke over the weekend. Since 2007, various architects had declared the 300-year-old chapel to be in a bad state of repair.
The chapel, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception (Kunċizzjoni), was built by Cavalier Rafel Spinola in 1687, who also owned Spinola Palace and the land around the chapel.
In 1914, the façade was pulled down and the chapel extended.
St Julians parish priest Claude Portelli said he had been begging the authorities for financial assistance to restore the chapel because his parish did not have the necessary funds. He said he had spoken to the authorities, including the local council, but nothing has ever came of it.
"It's a real pity that the oldest chapel in St Julians is in such a state. I do not have the funds to carry out the necessary repair works so I turned to the authorities to help me. But so far, I've had no luck and in the meantime it keeps getting worse and worse," a disappointed Fr Portelli said.
Over the weekend, one of the two bells in the belfry gave way and thankfully, instead of plummeting a storey, risking killing someone, it came to rest on a slab. Residents have temporarily secured it in place with a nylon rope.
The chapel, which is surrounded by restaurants, is used daily on weekdays for evening Mass and is also used for weddings.
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