Chapel of Christ the Saviour, Qrendi
| Chapel of Our Saviour | |
|---|---|
| The Church of the Transfuguaration of Jesus | |
Il-Kappella ts-Salvatur | |
 | |
  Chapel of Our Saviour | |
| 35°50′09.1″N 14°27′35.1″E / 35.835861°N 14.459750°E | |
| Location | Qrendi |
| Country | Malta |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | Transfiguration of Jesus |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Church |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Malta |
| Parish | Qrendi |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Charles Scicluna |
The Church of the Transfiguration of Jesus or simply known as Our Saviour's or Tas-Salvatur is a Roman Catholic church located in the village of Qrendi in the south of Malta.
History
This church is first mentioned in Bishop Dusina's report of his apostolic visit to Malta in 1575. Bishop Dusina visited the chapel on February 9, 1575, the first chapel he visited in Qrendi. Dusina mentions that the church had one altar but lacked any other objects necessary for services, including a rector and an income. However, Vincentius Aquilina, a nearby resident used to organise a service and vespers on the feast day. [1]
In 1618 the Bishop of Malta Baldassare Cagliares visited the church and mentions that it had an altar, a bell and a cemetery. Bishop Cagliares visited the church again in 1621. In 1636, his successor Miguel Juan Balaguer Camarasa visited the church as well and found it in the same condition as Bishop Cagliares describes. Some years later the same bishop, during an apostolic visit to the village (1656-1659) mentions that the chapel of Our Saviour as a new building, indicating that the original medieval chapel was demolished when a new one was built instead. In fact the present church was built in 1658 by Beneditto Camilleri. [2]
In the 1960s. the church was used as a parish hall. It was fully restored back to its original appearance and use in 1997, both internally and externally. [3]
Interior
The chapel ceiling is beautifully painted with floral designs, restored in 1997. The chapel has one altar which may have been installed in 1876. Above the main door there is a balcony adorned with pillars with the date 1876 sculpted on them, indicating when the gallery was built. The chapel lacks a titular painting however in the 17th and 1th century, respectively, two different painting adorned the altar however no one knows what happened to these paintings.
References
- ^ "Chapel dedicated to Our Saviour" Archived 2016-06-13 at the Wayback Machine, Qrendi parish. Retrieved on 12 January 2017.
- ^ Ciantar, Noel. "Il-knisja tas-Salvatur ~ Qrendi ~", Kappelli Maltin. Retrieved on 12 January 2017.
- ^ "THE CHAPELS OF QRENDI", Qrendi Local Council. Retrieved on 12 January 2017.