On the anniversary of the founding of the Jesuit Church Foundation in Valletta, the Minister for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici announced an investment of €1.7 million in restoration works in the Jesuit Church and College which will be added to the €2.8 million that have already been invested from 2015 to date, so that this heritage gem returns to its glorious state and continues to be enjoyed by the present and future generations.
The Church was built between 1593 and 1609 by the Jesuit Order and contains works of art by Mattia Preti, Giovanni Battista Caracciolo, Stefano Erardi and Alessio Erardi, among others, and the titular altar is made by Filippo Paladini. The complex includes two oratories, one known as the Honorati and the other as the Immaculate Conception.
In his speech, Minister Owen Bonnici stressed that the Government together with the Archdiocese of Malta are committing work to continue safeguarding the Church and the internal artefacts. He praised the work of the foundation, which has the main objective of managing and conserving the Church of the Circumcision, better known as the Jesuit Church, together with the adjacent Oratories of the Honored and the Immaculate Conception. with them.
“Through the foundation, new project opportunities are being created to improve not only the facilities but also the necessary restoration so that the Church and the extraordinary heritage in it can be enjoyed by the public and tourists, Dr. Bonnici concluded.
The Administrative Secretary of the Archdiocese of Malta Michael Pace Ross, who is also a member of the foundation, explained that in the first year a lot of conservation and restoration work was done, both in the church and in the oratories, and this testifies the full cooperation that exists between the Church and the Government so that this gem in Valletta will eventually be opened to the public as is the St. John’s Co-Cathedral.
President of the Foundation Dr. David Camilleri claimed that during this year that the foundation was established, an important work was carried out in collaboration between the State and the Church. He claimed that once the extensive restoration that is currently underway is completed, it will increase the awareness of this monument in Valletta which will lead to it occupying an important place in the cultural and touristic scene.
The works started in 2015 with the restoration of the roof of the Jesuit Church, the dome, the couplets on the chapels and the bell tower. The works continued with the restoration of the facades of the Church and with the repair of the wooden ceiling above the Oratory of the Honours. Restoration and paving works were also carried out in the courtyard of the college, today the Valletta Campus of the University of Malta, and the external facades in Triq il-Merkanti, in Triq San Kristofru and in Triq San Pawl.
In 2021, the works began to change the existing mechanical and electrical systems and restoration works are carried out in the sacristy and in the oratories of the Conception and that of the Honours. Works are also currently underway on the services at the Oratory of the Immaculate Conception. Repairs were made to the balustrade above the door of the oratory as well as to the windows. Once the works on the walls and ceiling are completed, the restoration of the altar can begin.
These works are being carried out by the Restoration Directorate, under the guidance of Architect Mark Azzopardi.
