The chapel of the Shipwreck of St. Paul

Bishop Pietro Dusina's pastoral visitation report of 1575 mentions a church dedicated to the conversion of St. Paul which was situated in medio Casali Naxari. This church, which was in fact to be found in Casal Miselmiet on the outskirts of the village, was mentioned again in 1608 in the pastoral visitation report of Bishop Gargallo. In successive reports by Bishop Cagliares, further information was given with regard to the state of preservation of the painting adding that it needed restoration. In 1618 the bishop noted that the painting was newly painted. However, the church possessed a dangerous entrance and furthermore was ofted targeted by vandals. As a result, the church was profaned and the painting, together with the obligations of the church, were transferred to the main altar in the parish church. In addition, a cross had to be put up where the church was situated.

In 1628, Cagliares noted that the church dedicated to the conversion of St. Paul was profaned and demolished. No further mention of this church was noted in subsequent pastoral visitation reports. However, the village with such a strong Pauline tradition could not remain long without a chapel dedicated to the saint. In fact, towards the end of the century, a new church dedicated to the shipwreck of St. Paul was built. The building of the church had very probably been begun in 1690; by 1696 it had reached door lever and it was finished by 1699. Bishop Cocco Palmieri noted in 1699 that the church had just been newly built, that it was built from the donations of the devout, and that it was situated in the area known as Hal Miselmiet. Inside the church stood a stone altar and above it, in between two carved stone columns, was the painting representing the shipwreck of St. Paul.

Above the doorways of the two sacristies were two paintings set in round carved-stone frames, representing St. John the Baptist and St. Peter in Chains respectively.

Bishop Cannaves noted in the report of 1716, that the tabernacle on the main altar of the church was decorated with a painting representing B.M.V. Solitudinis. The titular painting represented St. Paul holding the serpent in one hand, surrounded by a number of figures. This painting was emblazoned with the coat-of-arms of the Testaferrata and Bonelli families. Apparently the donor was Theresie Bonelli Testaferrata.

Situated beneath the titular painting was another work representing The Virging of Good Counsel. The Virgin's head was surrounded with a halo of twelve gilded silver stars, and the painting was decorated with gold and silver ornaments. On the base of the two columns flanking the titular altar, were another two small paintings representing The Sacred Heart of Jesus and The Sacred Heart of Mary respectively. In front of the church cemetry, Cannaves noted the presence of a stone cross mounted on a column on a round three-stepped podium. On top of this column was the inscription Francsi Anto Cuniglio and beneath it his insigna. Bishop Pellerano's report of 1771 provides further information.

The chapel was well kept and was also well furnished with bequests from devout people. Through the income from these, as well as through the regular donations from the faithful, the church was also well furnished with all the necessary paraphernalia linked with liturgical celebrations. The feast of St. Paul was regularly celebrated with sung vespers and High mass. In 1770, a stone statue of St. Paul on a high pedestal was commissioned through the donations of the faithful.

According to Ferris, the clergy and people of Naxxar used to go in procession from the parish church to this church on the second Sunday in May. It was a votive procession whose origin is unknown and which continued to be held up to recent years.

Almost two centuries had to pass before great changes took place in the church. In 1960, Malta celebrated the nineteenth centenary of St. Paul's shipwreck. A Pontifical Mass was celebrated in the square in front of the church. In these years, Marquis John Scicluna returned to live in his villa nearby. He soon became the new benefactor of the church. Not only did the Marquis donate a new set of the fourteen stations of the Cross, two small statues , a new set of liturgical vestments, a new chalice, and several other things, but he also donated enough for the Sunday Mass and a Mass on every first Friday of the month.

Today, the church functions regularly and serves the new community at San Pawl tat-Targa.

Reference: Naxxar, A Village and its People, edited by Paul Catania and Louis J. Scerri