The St Cecilia Chapel (Maltese: Il-Kappella ta' Santa Ċeċilja or ta' Santa Ċilja) is a former Roman Catholicchapel in the limits of Xewkija, Gozo, Malta, dedicated to Saint Cecilia. It was built in around 1540, but it was deconsecrated in 1644, being converted into an ancillary building for the nearby Santa Cecilia Tower.
The only surviving medieval chapel on Gozo, it was severely damaged in an arson attack in 2007 and a partial collapse in 2008. The chapel was then passed to the NGO Wirt Għawdex, who restored it between 2008 and 2011. Since its inauguration in 2012, the restored chapel is open to the public once every month.
The date of construction of the Santa Cecilia Chapel is unknown, but it is believed to date back to around 1540. The area around the chapel was referred to as Santa Cecilie del Mugiarro or in variants of that name in notarial documents dated 1424 and 1569.[1] The surrounding area is still known as ta' Santa Ċeċilja or ta' Santa Ċilja.[2] The oldest recorded reference to the building itself was made in a pastoral visit by Bishop Baldassare Cagliares in 1615.[3]
In 1613, the knight Fra Bernardo Macedonia built a tower nearby and it was called the Santa Cecilia Tower after the chapel.[4] The chapel was described as being in good condition in 1630, and it was maintained through donations in the next few years. However, it was in a bad state by 1635, and it was deconsecrated in 1644.[5] The chapel became an ancillary building to the tower, at times probably housing a mule-driven mill.[3]
The chapel (along with the tower) was scheduled as a Grade 1 monument in 1996, and it was expropriated by the government in 1997, although the order was not executed due to a compensation issue and the chapel remained in use as an animal shelter and a store until the early 21st century. Its interior was burnt down by vandals in August 2007, causing irreparable damage in the process.[6] Part of the west wall and some roof slabs collapsed after heavy rainfall in January 2008.[7]
Plinth with a plaque commemorating the inauguration of the restored chapel in 2012
Emergency stabilization works were carried out after the 2008 collapse,[8] and later that year the chapel was entrusted to the NGO Wirt Għawdex. Restoration continued until 2011,[9] and it was inaugurated on 24 March 2012.[10] The restoration works were carried out by Wirt Għawdex and the Ministry for Gozo and were sponsored by the Baron Group of Companies, with additional funds coming through eco-gozo projects and The Rotary Club Gozo.[3] The chapel was converted into a venue for cultural activities including lectures, exhibitions and concerts.[1]
The chapel remains under the care of Wirt Għawdex, and it is open to the public free of charge on the last Saturday of every month from 11:00 to 13:00. Group visits can be arranged by appointment.[11]
The Santa Cecilia Chapel as viewed from the rear, with Santa Cecilia Tower at far
The Santa Cecilia Chapel has a simple design, and it is a typical example of Maltese vernacular architecture from the late medieval period. It is the best preserved unaisled chapel in Malta, which were once common throughout the islands.[3] It is the only surviving medieval chapel in Gozo.[5][8]
The building has an almost perfect square plan, measuring 7 m × 7 m (23 ft × 23 ft), having a slight pitch on the roof. The chapel is constructed out of local limestone, with the façade being constructed out of ashlar blocks while the other sides are built out of rubble stonework. The chapel's floor is about 1 m (3 ft 3 in) below ground level, so it is led to by three steps. The interior is divided into four bays by three stone arches, which support the building's roof. A small window above the door is the only source of natural light in the chapel, apart from the doorway.[3]
Referencesedit
^ ab. islandofgozo.org. Gozo Tourism Association. 23 October 2012. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016.
^Caruana, Joseph (2011). (PDF). L-Imnara (in Maltese). 9 (4): 188. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2016.
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The St Cecilia Chapel Maltese Il Kappella ta Santa Ċeċilja or ta Santa Ċilja is a former Roman Catholic chapel in the limits of Xewkija Gozo Malta dedicated to Saint Cecilia It was built in around 1540 but it was deconsecrated in 1644 being converted into an ancillary building for the nearby Santa Cecilia Tower St Cecilia s ChapelIl Kappella ta Santa ĊeċiljaView of the Santa Cecilia Chapel36 1 43 N 14 16 25 7 E 36 02861 N 14 273806 E 36 02861 14 273806LocationXewkijaCountryMaltaDenominationRoman CatholicHistoryStatusChapelDedicationSaint CeciliaArchitectureFunctional statusDeconsecratedStyleMedieval VernacularCompletedc 1540SpecificationsLength7 m 23 ft Width7 m 23 ft MaterialsLimestone The only surviving medieval chapel on Gozo it was severely damaged in an arson attack in 2007 and a partial collapse in 2008 The chapel was then passed to the NGO Wirt Għawdex who restored it between 2008 and 2011 Since its inauguration in 2012 the restored chapel is open to the public once every month Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp The nearby Santa Cecilia Tower which was built in 1613 The date of construction of the Santa Cecilia Chapel is unknown but it is believed to date back to around 1540 The area around the chapel was referred to as Santa Cecilie del Mugiarro or in variants of that name in notarial documents dated 1424 and 1569 1 The surrounding area is still known as ta Santa Ċeċilja or ta Santa Ċilja 2 The oldest recorded reference to the building itself was made in a pastoral visit by Bishop Baldassare Cagliares in 1615 3 In 1613 the knight Fra Bernardo Macedonia built a tower nearby and it was called the Santa Cecilia Tower after the chapel 4 The chapel was described as being in good condition in 1630 and it was maintained through donations in the next few years However it was in a bad state by 1635 and it was deconsecrated in 1644 5 The chapel became an ancillary building to the tower at times probably housing a mule driven mill 3 The chapel along with the tower was scheduled as a Grade 1 monument in 1996 and it was expropriated by the government in 1997 although the order was not executed due to a compensation issue and the chapel remained in use as an animal shelter and a store until the early 21st century Its interior was burnt down by vandals in August 2007 causing irreparable damage in the process 6 Part of the west wall and some roof slabs collapsed after heavy rainfall in January 2008 7 nbsp Plinth with a plaque commemorating the inauguration of the restored chapel in 2012 Emergency stabilization works were carried out after the 2008 collapse 8 and later that year the chapel was entrusted to the NGO Wirt Għawdex Restoration continued until 2011 9 and it was inaugurated on 24 March 2012 10 The restoration works were carried out by Wirt Għawdex and the Ministry for Gozo and were sponsored by the Baron Group of Companies with additional funds coming through eco gozo projects and The Rotary Club Gozo 3 The chapel was converted into a venue for cultural activities including lectures exhibitions and concerts 1 The chapel remains under the care of Wirt Għawdex and it is open to the public free of charge on the last Saturday of every month from 11 00 to 13 00 Group visits can be arranged by appointment 11 The chapel is now also listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands 12 Architecture edit nbsp The Santa Cecilia Chapel as viewed from the rear with Santa Cecilia Tower at far The Santa Cecilia Chapel has a simple design and it is a typical example of Maltese vernacular architecture from the late medieval period It is the best preserved unaisled chapel in Malta which were once common throughout the islands 3 It is the only surviving medieval chapel in Gozo 5 8 The building has an almost perfect square plan measuring 7 m 7 m 23 ft 23 ft having a slight pitch on the roof The chapel is constructed out of local limestone with the facade being constructed out of ashlar blocks while the other sides are built out of rubble stonework The chapel s floor is about 1 m 3 ft 3 in below ground level so it is led to by three steps The interior is divided into four bays by three stone arches which support the building s roof A small window above the door is the only source of natural light in the chapel apart from the doorway 3 References edit a b A True Labour of Love the restoration of the Santa Cecilia Chapel islandofgozo org Gozo Tourism Association 23 October 2012 Archived from the original on 14 March 2016 Caruana Joseph 2011 Toponimi t Għajnsielem 1 PDF L Imnara in Maltese 9 4 188 Archived from the original PDF on 18 April 2016 a b c d e Santa Cecilia Medieval Chapel Wirt Għawdex Archived from the original on 30 June 2016 Caruana Joseph 2011 Toponomi t Għajnsielem 1 PDF L Imnara 9 4 Rivista tal Għaqda Maltija tal Folklor 187 189 Archived from the original PDF on 18 April 2016 a b Bezzina Joseph Il kappella ta Santa Ċeċilja Għajnsielem Għawdex Kappelli Maltin in Maltese Archived from the original on 8 August 2016 Fire at St Cecilia Chapel Gozo PDF Wirt Għawdex 24 August 2007 Archived from the original PDF on 8 August 2016 Grech Herman 13 January 2008 Part of medieval chapel collapses Times of Malta Archived from the original on 8 August 2016 a b Grech Herman 20 January 2008 Belated lifeline promised for medieval chapel Times of Malta Archived from the original on 8 August 2016 Ancient Gozo chapel restored at last Times of Malta 25 January 2010 Archived from the original on 8 August 2016 St Cecilia chapel restored Times of Malta 18 March 2012 Archived from the original on 8 August 2016 Opening Times Wirt Għawdex Archived from the original on 30 June 2016 St Cecilia Chapel PDF National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands 30 March 2012 Archived from the original PDF on 3 March 2016 Further reading editMallia David 2012 The Church of St Cecilia on the Island of Gozo Malta Wirt Għawdex ISBN 9789995702120 Grech Paul 1999 Exploring the Chapels of Gozo Malta Progress Press Co Ltd ISBN 999 09305 6 2 Bezzina Joseph 2007 Il kappella ta Santa Ċeċilja PDF Għaqda Muzikali San Ġuzepp in Maltese Għajnsielem 103 104 Vella Fiona 14 October 2020 Walk along Għajnsielem s historical route Times of Malta Archived from the original on 14 October 2020 External links edit nbsp Media related to Santa Cecilia Chapel at Wikimedia Commons Portals nbsp Catholicism nbsp Malta Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Santa Cecilia Chapel amp oldid 1123535050, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
