page_title: St Mary's Chapel, Bir Miftuħ
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: St Mary's Chapel, Bir Miftuħ / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Interior detail of Chapel of St. Marija ta' Bir Miftuh This media is about Maltese cultural property with inventory number 01806.
context_page_description: The Chapel of St Mary is a medieval chapel located in Bir Miftuħ, limits of Gudja, Malta.
context_section_description: The Chapel of St Mary was built some time in the fifteenth-century, most probably in around 1430. 
  In 1436, the chapel was mentioned as one of the 12 existing parishes by Bishop Senatore de Mello; it is believed to have existed long before that. It was not in the village centre, but mainly covered the areas of Gudja, Ħal Kirkop, Ħal Safi, Mqabba, Ħal Tarxien, Ħal Luqa, Ħal Farruġ and Birżebbuġa. 
  The chapel stands freely and has a rectangular plan which measures about eleven by fourteen metres. Having said that, it was originally built in the shape of a cross. In 1512, the rear end of the chapel was demolished and the stones were used in the construction of the present church. It also had six doors though only two remain. The church served as parish church until 1676 when the present church was built. A belfry was added in the 16th century. 
  On the arrival of the Knights of St John, a captain was appointed to defend the area of Bir Miftuħ. In 1565, during the Great Siege of Malta, the church was desecrated by the invading Turks. It is said that in order to preserve the treasures of the church, including the bells, from the invaders, the people buried them in the tombs of the church. 
  The church was visited by the Apostolic Deligate Monsignor Pietro Dusina in 1575 who found it well equipped for divine services. In 1655, the people of Gudja decided to build a new church in the centre of the village. Everything was transferred to the new church once it had been built in 1676.
  In 1830, Bettina Muscat Cassia D’Aurel restored this church. On April 9, 1942 the church ceiling collapsed as a result of an air raid during World War II. The church was again restored by the parish priest of Gudja. Unfortunately, the church was abandoned until 1970 when it was handed over to the national trust Din l-Art Ħelwa. In 1973, the trust, sponsored by the Malta International Airport, started restoring this church. During the restoration, frescos were discovered above the front door. A new pavement was installed. Restoration was finished in 2004.
caption: Interior of the chapel
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