St Paul's Pro Cathedral Valletta celebrates 175th anniversary of consecration

The spire of St Paul's Pro Cathedral on the Valletta skyline
Dowager Queen Adelaide was the Royal Benefactor who wished to establish a "Collegiate Church in the Anglican Tradition" in Malta. St Paul's, Valletta, is now one of the two Pro-Cathedrals in the Diocese (the other is in Brussels) which together with our Cathedral in Gibraltar make us rather well endowed as far as cathedrals go!
The Main Entrance to St Paul's, by night
2 - 3 November was a busy weekend for the Pro-Cathedral. Over the course of the two days, several events were held to mark the 175th anniversary of the consecration of the building. 

 When consecrated by the then Bishop of Gibraltar on All Saints day 1844 it was dedication to St Paul who holds great significance for the Maltese. He was the first Christian missionary to the island when he was shipwrecked there around AD 59/60, thus was the Apostolic founder of the Church there.  For this reason, the Chancellor of the Pro-Cathedral, the Revd Canon Simon Godfrey, thought it fitting that consecration crosses be installed and blessed as part of the anniversary. Consecration crosses are reminders in our physical buildings that the Church of God is built on the foundation of the Apostles of Jesus Christ.This unusual liturgical event occurred on 2 November during a Requiem Mass celebrated for the Friends of St Paul's AGM. 


As fitting as this ceremony was, it was not thought fitting (or safe, given what I was wearing) for me to climb up the ladder to bless the crosses. The intrepid Fr Simon, much fitter than I, climbed the ladder to consecrate each of the six crosses while I remained on terra firma to recite the prayer of blessing.  



The next day, All Saints Sunday, the 175th anniversary itself was celebrated in a festive mass. The President of the Republic of Malta, Dr George Vella KCMG and the British High Commissioner, HE Stuart Gill OBE were present as well as ambassadors from Germany and Italy, and several government ministers and ecumenical dignitaries. 
HE President Vella and Mme Vella, with Chancellor Canon Simon Godfrey
It was a joy on that occasion also to witness the Revd Canon David Waller be installed in his stall (of St John Henry Newman), by the Chancellor. Fr David is the Archdeacon-designate to serve the two archdeaconries of Italy and Malta and Gibraltar. 
Archdeacon Designate Canon David Waller
The Pro Cathedral is in the midst of a capital appeal for a complete restoration. It is the largest appeal ever of its kind in our diocese, with a target of €8 million. So far, €5.2 million have been raised, which includes a generous donation from the European Union. The restoration will include urgent repairs to the spire which is a central part of the iconic Valletta skyline, as well as other works inside and out.is pressing. An appeal is being launched to raise more than €8,000,000 (more than €8 million) for vital restoration work. The fund will be ring-fenced for this work only - it will not be used for running expenses.
The need is pressing. An appeal is being launched to raise more than €8,000,000 (more than €8 million) for vital restoration work. The fund will be ring-fenced for this work only - it will not be used for running expenses.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Farewell to the Diocese in Europe

Image
Deacon Frances and I packed up our office yesterday and turned over our official files, emails and equipment. Thus a close working together for 22 years comes to an end. So it is hard to believe that today, St David's day, a new chapter begins, after 44 years of stipendiary ministry, 22 years as deacon then priest and 22 as a bishop.  Here are just a few memories from the last couple of months...   But now it is time to begin a new chapter.  O God, by whose command the order of time runs its course: forgive our impatience, perfect our faith and, while we await the fulfilment of your promise, grant us to have a good hope because of your Word,  even Jesus Christ our Lord. (St Gregory Nazianzus, 330 - 390)
Read more

Archbishop of Canterbury's Pentecost Letter: A European Consequence

Image
In his Pentecost letter, the Archbishop of Canterbury warned of certain consequences for provinces of the Anglican Communion which have failed to stand by the three moratoria . (No authorisation of blessings services for same-sex unions; no consecrations of bishops living in same-sex relationships; and no bishop authorising any ministry within the diocese of another bishop without explicit permission). One consequence would be that representatives from such provinces w ould not be able to participate in the formal international interchurch dialogues of the Communion. One of those dialogues is the Anglican-Old Catholic International Co-ordinating Council ( AOCICC ), the official instrument set up to deepen the relationship of communion established in 1931 between the Anglican Communion and the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht . As the member Churches of the Union of Utrecht are all European, the AOCICC is effectively a European body. (I am one of the members, appointe
Read more

Advent in Helsinki: Mary, the Church's calling, and the One who brings us out of darkness to light

Image
Outside the Cathedral in Helsinki Yesterday, 8 December, was a very full Advent day, with activities redolent of the themes of the season. It was, of course, the Feast of the [Immaculate] Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary when we contemplate the mystery of the one who was prepared, through grace, to become the Mother of the Redeemer.  At the Vallila Help Centre (above, with Coordinator Eeva and Fr Tuomas) St Ambrose of Milan (whose feast we also celebrated this past week) was the first to refer to the Blessed Virgin as the Mother of the Church,  Mater Ecclesiae,  a title which helps us consider not only her role in giving birth to the Redeemer from whom the Church itself was born, but also how in her own life she responded to God's call in faith and love, as the Church today is also called to respond to the needs of the world.  It was with this in mind that I was so moved by a visit to the Ukraine Vallila Help Centre, a project supported by USPG and this diocese, which provides
Read more