In the 'Rollo' (inventory) of the benefices of the churches and chapels in Malta and Gozo, held by Bishop de Mello in 1436, a total of 12 established chapels are mentioned, amongst which the Church of San Lorenzo a Mare.
When the Order of Saint John first settled in Malta in 1530, all of their langues were based in Birgu, so the Church of Saint Lawrence was used as the Order's first conventual church in Malta. It served this purpose for 41 years from 1530 to 1571 until the Knights were transferred to the new capital city Valletta. The foundation stone of the present church was laid in May 1681 by Bishop Molina. It was completed in 1696. The church was inaugurated by Bishop Davide Cocco Palmieri on the feast of St Lawrence, August 10, 1697. It was consecrated in 1723. In 1820 Pope Pius VII bestowed the dignity of Collegiate church upon the parish church of St Lawrence.[1]
Interior of the church
War periodedit
On January 16, 1941 the church was bombed by a German air raid. Both the sacristy and the chapter hall were destroyed. They were both re-built in 1949. On March 22 of the same year the chapel of the blessed Sacrament was destroyed and on April 4, 1942 the dome of the church was destroyed. The chapel was re-built in 1951 and the dome was re-built in 1952.[2]
The church includes many works of art amongst them the main altar piece by Mattia Preti showing the martyrdom of St Lawrence. Other works of art include paintings by Stefano Erardi such as Christ the Saviour and The Dead Christ.
^"St Lawrence Church" 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Order of Malta, July 2004. Retrieved on 24 April 2014.
^"Church dedicated to St Lawrence Martyr in Vittoriosa Parish churches (3)", The Times of Malta, Malta, 03 September 2011. Retrieved on 24 April 2014.
^(PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 27 August 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
January 01, 1970
collegiate, church, saint, lawrence, vittoriosa, collegiate, church, saint, lawrence, maltese, knisja, kolleġġjata, lawrenz, church, situated, birgu, malta, collegiate, saint, lawrencethe, collegiate, matrix, parish, church, saint, lawrenceil, knisja, kolleġġj. The Collegiate church of Saint Lawrence Maltese Knisja kolleġġjata ta San Lawrenz is an old Church situated in Birgu in Malta Collegiate of Saint LawrenceThe Collegiate Matrix Parish church of Saint LawrenceIl Knisja Kolleġġjata Arċipretali u Matriċi ta San LawrenzFacade of the Church35 53 14 N 14 31 17 E 35 88733 N 14 52137 E 35 88733 14 52137LocationBirgu MaltaDenominationRoman CatholicHistoryStatusActiveFoundedMay 11 1681 1681 05 11 Founder s Michele MolinaDedicationSt LawrenceConsecrated24 October 1723ArchitectureFunctional statusParish churchCollegiate churchArchitect s Lorenzo GafaArchitectural typeChurchStyleBaroqueCompleted10 August 1697SpecificationsMaterialsLimestoneAdministrationArchdioceseMaltaParishBirguClergyArchpriestJoseph Mizzi Contents 1 History 1 1 War period 1 2 Present day 2 Works of art 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editIn the Rollo inventory of the benefices of the churches and chapels in Malta and Gozo held by Bishop de Mello in 1436 a total of 12 established chapels are mentioned amongst which the Church of San Lorenzo a Mare When the Order of Saint John first settled in Malta in 1530 all of their langues were based in Birgu so the Church of Saint Lawrence was used as the Order s first conventual church in Malta It served this purpose for 41 years from 1530 to 1571 until the Knights were transferred to the new capital city Valletta The foundation stone of the present church was laid in May 1681 by Bishop Molina It was completed in 1696 The church was inaugurated by Bishop Davide Cocco Palmieri on the feast of St Lawrence August 10 1697 It was consecrated in 1723 In 1820 Pope Pius VII bestowed the dignity of Collegiate church upon the parish church of St Lawrence 1 nbsp Interior of the church War period edit On January 16 1941 the church was bombed by a German air raid Both the sacristy and the chapter hall were destroyed They were both re built in 1949 On March 22 of the same year the chapel of the blessed Sacrament was destroyed and on April 4 1942 the dome of the church was destroyed The chapel was re built in 1951 and the dome was re built in 1952 2 Present day edit The church building is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands 3 Works of art editThe church includes many works of art amongst them the main altar piece by Mattia Preti showing the martyrdom of St Lawrence Other works of art include paintings by Stefano Erardi such as Christ the Saviour and The Dead Christ See also edit nbsp Catholicism portal nbsp History portal nbsp Malta portal Culture of Malta History of Malta List of Churches in Malta Religion in MaltaReferences edit St Lawrence Church Archived 2016 03 04 at the Wayback Machine Order of Malta July 2004 Retrieved on 24 April 2014 Church dedicated to St Lawrence Martyr in Vittoriosa Parish churches 3 The Times of Malta Malta 03 September 2011 Retrieved on 24 April 2014 Parish Church of St Lawrence Martyr PDF National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands 27 August 2012 Archived from the original PDF on 9 August 2016 Retrieved 31 October 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Collegiate Church of Saint Lawrence Vittoriosa amp oldid 1159288529, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
