Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1137604
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 JUNE 2019 NEWS JAMES DEBONO ATTARD historian Reno Saliba is wor- ried that the proposed Central Link road project will threaten the structure of the St Paul Shipwreck chapel in Attard. The extensive roads project, which will be replacing a number of farm buildings, could pose a threat to the chapel which was only restored 11 years ago thanks to the voluntary work of a number of help- ers and professionals, as well as financial sponsors. As a historian specialising in baroque studies, Saliba became deeply attached to the chapel, discovering historical records documenting the full financial accounts for its construction between 1728 and 1729 – at the cost of 205 Maltese scudi. In 2004 he was asked by the then par- ish priest Fr Dione Cutajar to take care of the chapel. At that time the church was in a very dilapidated state, also ruined by previous unprofessional and shoddy attempts at restoring it. Subsequently, proper restoration works commenced. Unfortunately, shortly after the resto- ration was completed eleven years ago, cracks in its walls started emerging. "In the past years these cracks have been increasing, and we asked a profes- sional company to monitor the work… further studies confirmed movements on the sides of the church and works are now needed to stabilise the chapel," Saliba said. But Saliba fears that excavation works carried out by heavy machinery in the immediate vicinity of the chapel could further destabilise the chapel. "We are afraid that the damage will be irrepara- ble." Saliba is now appealing to the authori- ties to take heed and ensure that "this heritage jewel is not endangered." He is emboldened by the call made by the Superintendence for Cultural Herit- age on the authorities to re-route this stretch of the Central Link project. Saliba himself had discovered the fi- nancial accounts for the chapel in his research for his MA thesis. In 2004 the parish priest had asked for his help to commence the restoration of the chap- el. He also found volunteers who either worked gratis or helped finance the costs of the restoration. "One of the greatest values this church has is its location in the rural environ- ment, overlooking the Wied is-Sewda valley and located next to a number of rural buildings and farmhouses of evi- dent heritage value… It also forms part of the oldest part of Attard." He compares the creation of a wide road next to this typical Maltese wayside chapel and the destruction of its sur- rounding building, akin to "putting an old person in the middle of Paceville, where he would look awkward and strange." While the present chapel dates back to 1729, in the same site at Taht ir-Ra- hal, according to a manuscript found by Saliba, another chapel had been built in 1628, dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady. The chapel's façade consists of one bay, defined by two corner pilasters con- structed in the Doric style. Above the central doorway, which is decorated with mouldings, is a frieze with the year 1729 in relief. Above the frieze lies a segmental pediment. Further above, right in the centre, is Mgr Alpheran de Bussan's coat of arms in relief. On both sides of the doorway are two small windows, used for the col- lection of alms. Inside the chapel one finds the titular painting depicting St Paul with St Publius and St Vincent de Paul. Another four paintings depicting the evangelists, attributed to Francesco Zah- ra, are now found in the parish church sacristy. Historian makes impassioned appeal to save chapel from roadworks Chapel custodian and historian Reno Saliba joins Superintendence for Cultural Heritage in appealing for the re-routing of Central Link Project in bid to save recently restored chapel and the rural environment around it Reno Saliba: creating a wide road next to this typical wayside chapel ie like "putting an old person in the middle of Paceville, where he would look awkward and strange"