Restoration has started on St Paul's Chapel, in the area known as Taht ir-Rahal, in Attard. In February 2004, the parish priest, Fr Dione Cutajar, asked me to co-ordinate this restoration project and eventually run the chapel while assuring its functionality.
Soon afterwards, I presented a preliminary evaluation report of the chapel's structural conditions. These reports revealed some malpractices in prior restoration interventions, so remedial action was proposed accordingly. The restoration now had to be in line with the latest professional practices.
Architect Shirley Cefai, an expert in this field, prepared both the plans and reports for the required interventions and applied to MEPA for approval of the actual restoration project. The permit was issued shortly after. The Archbishop's Curia also gave its go-ahead.
A number of sponsors to finance these interventions have come forward. Restoration is being carried out by Carmel Callus, under the architect's supervision.
Work is progressing according to plan, and in fact a new cross surmounting the frontispiece and a waterspout at one side of the church, at roof level, replaced those missing. Parts of the deteriorated main doorframe were replaced, while stone repairs around the whole structure is in progress. Stone repair is being made only where required, thus ensuring the authenticity of the structure.
Wooden apertures are also being restored, while a sponsor has already paid for the glass panes of the clerestory windows. Electricity cables and other equipment, which are damaging the structure, are being dismantled.
St Paul's Chapel is one of a number chapels found in Attard. Originally, on the same site at Taht ir-Rahal, another chapel had been built in 1628, dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady, according to a manuscript by the priest Gio Batta Sammut, which I found.
1500 is given elsewhere as the year in which the old chapel dedicated to the Assumption was built. Sammut states that his sources were Padre Pelagio and certain old documents, which Sammut himself summarised. The Assumption Chapel was desecrated by Mgr Alpheran de Bussan in 1728; it was demolished and rebuilt in 1729 and dedicated to St Paul Shipwrecked.
Building cost
Original documents listing the expenses incurred for the cutting and construction of the chapel's foundation, are dated December 1728, while the building was completed in 1729. The sum incurred for the building of this chapel amounted to 205 scudi, eight tari u six grani.
The chapel's façade consists of one bay defined by two corner pilasters of the Doric order. Above the central doorway, which is decorated with mouldings, is a frieze with the year 1729 in relief. Above the frieze lies a segmental pediment. Further above, right in the centre, is Mgr Alpheran de Bussan's coat of arms in relief.
On both sides of the doorway are two small windows, which according to evidence found on the internal windowsills, indicates that the window was used for the collection of alms. The façade is terminated by an architrave, frieze and cornice surmounted by a frontispiece crowned by a cross. At the sides there are two oval finials. At the sides of the chapel, at roof level, there are two waterspouts.
On each side of the chapel are two clerestory windows. On the corner Doric pilaster adjacent to the main façade there is a sundial. At roof level there are two belfries, one next to the stairwell and the other next to one of the oval finials.
Internally the chapel consists of one main central space roofed over by a barrel vault, under which runs a cornice. There is one main altar made of stone, and a space behind in the shape of an apse. Above and behind the altar there is a decorated stone framework, which embraced the titular painting. At the top of this stone framework, there exists the relief of two puttini holding a circular stone frame topped by a shell. A string of bay leaves flow along the sides of the stone framework.
The titular painting depicts St Paul with St Publius and St Vincent de Paul, who were all venerated. Documents reveal a payment of 20 scudi to Arrigo Ornace, probably the author of the titular painting. Another four paintings depict the evangelists, which used to hang embraced by stone frames at the sides of the chapel. These paintings are attributed to Francesco Zahra. At present the titular altarpiece is at the parish museum, and the other four paintings are hanging in the parish church sacristy.
Great thanks and gratitude go to all those benefactors who sponsored the restoration in progress and those who intend to help in the future, in order to re-establish the glory this chapel once enjoyed.
Mr Saliba, who is co-ordinating the restoration and is also in charge of the chapel, is compiling information about the chapel, based on his research from original sources. He intends to publish the new material he found in the near future. His aim is to make this information accessible to whoever is interested and also to give the appraisal this chapel rightly deserves. All those interested to help finish this restoration project should contact him by e-mail at renosaliba@ yahoo.com, or by calling 2141-7809 or 7959-4175.