Church of St Francis of Assisi, Ħamrun

Church in Ħamrun, Malta

Church of St Francis of Assisi

Knisja ta' San Franġisk t'Assisi

The church's façade in 2017

35°53′29.6″N 14°29′8.3″E﻿ / ﻿35.891556°N 14.485639°E﻿ / 35.891556; 14.485639
Location| Ħamrun, Malta
Denomination| Roman Catholic
Religious order| Order of Friars Minor
History
Status| Church
Dedication| Francis of Assisi
Consecrated| 29 May 1955
Architecture
Functional status| Active
Architect(s)| Ġużè Damato
Years built| 1952–1954
Specifications
Capacity| 2000
Length| 43 m (141 ft)
Width| 21 m (69 ft)
Nave width| 17 m (56 ft)
Materials| Limestone and concrete
Administration
Archdiocese| Malta
Parish| Ħamrun (Immaculate Conception)

The Church of St Francis of Assisi (Maltese: Knisja ta' San Franġisk t'Assisi) is a Roman Catholic church in Ħamrun, Malta. It was built between 1952 and 1954.

## History

[edit]

The Order of Friars Minor established a small chapel in Ħamrun on 16 August 1947, and it was located in a converted garage. This chapel was meant to be temporary, and the Order began to search for a plot of land on which to build a permanent church soon afterwards. After the site was chosen, construction of the church began with the first stone being laid down on 13 April 1952 by Tarcisju Xerri, the Order's superior.[1] The church was built to designs of the architect Ġużè Damato.[2] The building was opened to the public on 30 October 1954 and it was consecrated by Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi in May 1955.[1]

The church falls under the jurisdiction of the parish of the Immaculate Conception of Ħamrun.[3]

## Architecture

[edit]

The church has a simple Roman style, and it is built out of local limestone and concrete. The latter is used for the roof and octagonal dome, while stone is used for the church's walls. The building can accommodate 2000 people, and it is 43 metres (141 ft) and 21 metres (69 ft) wide including the side aisles. The nave itself has a width of 17 metres (56 ft).[1] The church has a large bell tower which is topped by a statue of St Francis sculpted by Marco Montebello[4] and installed on 21 February 1960.[1]

Internally, the church contains a main altar and two secondary altars, along with a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.[1][3] A Franciscan convent is located adjacent to the church and the two buildings are connected internally.[1]

## Artworks

[edit]

The church has a titular statue of St Francis accepting his stigmata which was sculpted in marble by Wistin Camilleri, and it also contains marble statues of Anthony of Padua and the Immaculate Conception which were produced by the Andriani company of Lucca.[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g Scerri, John. "Other Churches". Hamrun. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020.
2. ^ Schiavone, Michael J. (2009). Dictionary of Maltese Biographies Vol. 1 A–F. Pietà: Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza. pp. 657–658\. ISBN 9789993291329.
3. ^ a b "Ħamrun (Immaculate Conception Of Mary)". Archdiocese of Malta. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020.
4. ^ Bianchi, Carmel. "L-iskultur Qormi Marco Montebello" (PDF). In-Nazzjon (in Maltese). No. 12 July 2018. p. 7.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Church of St Francis of Assisi, Ħamrun at Wikimedia Commons