St Martin's Chapel, Baħrija

The Chapel of St Martin is a small Roman Catholic church located in the rural village of Baħrija in Malta.

St Martin's Chapel
Kappella ta' San Martin ta' Tours
St Martin's Chapel
35°53′45.0″N 14°20′48.7″E
LocationBaħrija
CountryMalta
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
StatusActive
Founded15th century
DedicationMartin of Tours
Architecture
Functional statusChurch
Completed17th century
Administration
ParishSt Paul's Rabat
ArchdioceseMalta
Clergy
ArchbishopCharles Scicluna

History

The original chapel was founded in 15th century. It was mentioned in 1575 in Bishop Dusina's report of his apostolic visit to Malta. Dusina mentions that the church lacked all means to use for the celebration of mass and that mass was only celebrated once a year. Dusina ordered the restoration of the chapel's door and ordered the parish priest of St Paul's Collegiate church in Rabat to encourage locals to care for the chapel. Years later, when Bishop Baldassare Cagliares visited the chapel in 1615 he found that Bishop Dusina's instructions were ignored and consequently deconsecrated the chapel. [1]

Interior of the Chapel

In 1643 agreements were drawn to celebrate vespers on the eve of the feast of St Martin and mass on the feast day. In 1684 Bishop Miguel Jerónimo de Molina visited the chapel and mentions that mass was celebrated on Sundays and feast days. Around the same year the chapel was rebuilt through initiatives of Cumbo Navarra. [2]

The chapel was used frequently by the locals until a new larger church was built nearby. The chapel was recently extensively restored and is mostly used for perpetual adoration.

Interior

The chapel includes one altar and a painting depicting Martin of Tours, St James the Greater and St Philip Neri. It dates from 1735 and is the work of Francesco Zahra.

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References
  1. "St. Martin's Chapel - Baħrija", Government Restoration, Malta. Retrieved on 28 June 2017.
  2. Brincat, J. "Il-knisja l-antika ta’ San Martin ~ Baħrija, limiti tar-Rabat ~", Kappelli Maltin, Malta. Retrieved on 28 June 2017.
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