On 22 June 1890, the foundation stone of the old Church of St Joseph in Kalkara was blessed, and the building work was completed in 1895.

It was consecrated by Archbishop Mauro Caruana on 30 January 1921. A little more than two years later, on 1 July 1923, the same Archbishop laid the first stone of the belfry. However, on 10 April 1942, during one of the air attacks, the church was almost destroyed, and many artworks were lost with it, including the titular statue of St Joseph.