St. Paul's Grotto - History

Abstract

The Grotto of St. Paul in Rabat is "the foundation stone of the Church in Malta". This outright declaration was made on the 13 May 1617, by the Cathedral Chapter of Mdina. During the Middle - Ages, a large cemetery grew round this Grotto. Many nobles, Maltese and foreigners, with the desire to be buried in this cemetery allocated the necessary funds in their will for this purpose and for a chapel to be build on their tomb. In 1575 the Apostolic Delegate Mons. Pietro Dusina left in his records that he had visited 21 of these chapels. Adjacent to this Grotto, a Church was built to cater for the spiritual needs of the ever expanding Christian community. Thus we find that in 1555 the building of the Church was carried out on instructions given by the Bishop Mons. Domenico Cubelles. Later on, in 1575, the Archpriest De Agathis enlarged this Church which became the Parish Church, thus transfering to it the parish-seat from the Grotto. The Noblewoman Gusmana Navarra who had her house just opposite the Church, built a new church (the present one). The design for the new and larger Church was made by F. Bonamici and work started in 1653 ending 30 years later when the chapel of St. Stephen, and the facade, were completed under the direct supervision of Lorenzo Gafà.