On the 18th of June 1736, Bishop Paolo Alpheran de Bussan laid the first stone of the Capuchin Church dedicated to St Barbara.

The work progressed at a fast pace, so much so that in August of 1743, the church was blessed by the guardian Friar Ġużepp Grech. Four years later, on 18 June 1747, it was consecrated by Bishop de Bussan. When the church and the convent were built, these areas formed part of the Birgu parish.