Church of the Nativity of Our Lady, Rabat explained

Church of the Nativity of Our Lady
Other Name:	Ta' Ġieżu
Native Name:	Il-Knisja ta' Santa Marija ta' Ġesù
Native Name Lang:	mt
Coordinates:	35.8833°N 14.4001°W
Location:	Rabat
Country:	Malta
Denomination:	Roman Catholic
Dedication:	Nativity of Mary
Dedicated Date:	31 October 1790
Status:	Church
Functional Status:	Active
Years Built:	1500 1757 (enlarged)
Materials:	Limestone
Archdiocese:	Malta

The Church of the Nativity of Our Lady (Maltese: Il-Knisja ta' Santa Marija ta' Ġesù), commonly known as ta' Ġieżu, is a Roman Catholic church in Rabat, Malta. The church was built in 1500 and it was enlarged in 1757. It is adjoined by a Franciscan convent.

History

The Franciscans opened their first friary in Malta in Rabat, having arrived on the islands in 1492. The church was built some years later in 1500.^[1] The first Hospitaller Grand Master in Malta, Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam, had a room in the friary, and he died there in 1534. The room still exists and it has been restored.^[2] The church was enlarged in 1757 with the help of contributions from Italy, Spain and Portugal. It was dedicated on 31 October 1790.^[1]

Parts of the church and convent were restored in 2003.^[3]

In the early hours of 23 August 2017, two wooden beams which were supporting part of the church's ceiling gave way, leaving a hole and destroying a fresco. Falling debris damaged the marble altar and some benches and light fittings, but no one was injured since the church was empty at the time. The building was closed for some time, although there was no immediate danger of further collapse.^[4] The Bank of Valletta has pledged to help in repairing the damage and restoring the church.^[5]

A temporary roof was built three weeks after the collapse.^[6] Planned permanent repair works initially considered the possibility of building a dome, which was included in the church's original design but was never built,^[7] but studies showed that the church's structure was not strong enough to support its weight. The ceiling is to be rebuilt, and the artist Adonai Camilleri Cauchi is to cover a false ceiling under it with new frescoes.^[8]

The church is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.^[9]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Scerri. John. Rabat. malta-canada.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20120615090749/http://www.malta-canada.com/churches-chapels/Rabat-Malta.htm. 15 June 2012. 3 July 2019. live.
2. News: Grand Master L'Isle Adam's room open for viewing. Times of Malta. 20 November 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20160319020613/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111120/life-features/l-isle-adam.394724. 19 March 2016. 23 August 2017. live.
3. News: Fenech. Natalino. Builder doing church restoration works recalls building industry's hard times. Times of Malta. 5 August 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823174133/https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20030805/local/builder-doing-church-restoration-works-recalls-building-industrys-hard.144054. 23 August 2017.
4. News: Caruana. Claire. Rabat people in shock as ceiling collapses over the altar at Ta' Ġieżu church. Times of Malta. 23 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823175333/https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170823/local/ceiling-collapses-over-the-altar-at-ta-giezu-church-rabat.656290. 23 August 2017.
5. News: Powell. Rachel. Il-Bank of Valletta jwiegħed l-appoġġ tiegħu lill-Knisja Ta' Ġieżu. One News. 23 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823175650/http://www.one.com.mt/news/2017/08/23/il-bank-of-valletta-jwieghed-l-appogg-tieghu-lill-knisja-ta-giezu/. 23 August 2017.
6. News: New roof in place at Ta' Ġieżu Church in Rabat, three weeks after cave-in. Times of Malta. 13 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170913114515/https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170913/local/temporary-roof-in-place-at-ta-giezu-church-in-rabat.657916. 13 September 2017.
7. News: Plans for dome to replace collapsed Rabat church ceiling. Times of Malta. 24 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170824170545/https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170824/local/plans-for-dome-to-replace-collapsed-rabat-church-ceiling.656362. 24 August 2017.
8. News: Rabat church will not get dome after all. Times of Malta. 9 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180203175706/https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20171009/local/rabat-church-will-not-get-dome-after-all.659991. 3 February 2018.
9. Web site: No 13. National Inventory Register as per Government Gazette No 19,272 (dated 27 June 2014). Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. https://web.archive.org/web/20170702084926/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/page.asp?p=21705&l=1. 2 July 2017.