Dedicated to Saint Clement and founded by Clement Tabone, St Clement’s Chapel in Żejtun is one of the 12 projects being worked on as part of the Restoration Works Scheme for Local Councils, which was issued last June.

Minister for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government Owen Bonnici visited the ongoing restoration works which are well underway – these works are expected to be completed by the end of January 2024.

Bonnici explained how the projects completed over the years “have varied in nature and scale, ranging from small projects like traditional village crosses or statues to medium-scale endeavours.”

“A total of 43 projects have been completed under the Restoration Works Scheme for Local Councils in various areas of Malta,” Dr Bonnici added.

St Clement’s was built in 1658 and is located in the lower Żejtun area, referred to locally as ir-Raħal t’isfel, and was built in gratitude to St Clement for surviving a Turkish attack on Malta in 1614.

Ivana Farrugia, the architect responsible for the restoration, explained that the focus of the project is on restoring the temple’s external structure. 

The roof, which has lost its original finish, will also be restored. Additionally, extensively damaged stones will be replaced, and lost features of the chapel will be reincorporated.

As with every project under the aforementioned scheme, the restoration of St Clement’s Church involves employees from the Restoration and Preservation Department across all stages – from documentation and permit applications to on-site execution of restoration work.

The chapel sits on the road that once led to St Clement’s Gate, one of the entrances in the Cottonera Lines, which in fact derived its name from its proximity to the chapel.

What do you think the chapel will look like once completed?