By the closing years of the 19th century, Kalkara evolved into a thriving community and Our Saviour Church could no longer contain the congregation. To this effect, on 23 August 1884, Bishop Carmelo Scicluna allowed the construction of a new church on a pocket of land donated by Fortunato Gulia. The plans were drawn up by Walter Attard and the same Bishop laid the first stone on 22 June 1890. Works progressed steadily, and on 10 December 1897, Archbishop Pietro Pace removed Kalkara from the territory of the Birgu Parish and declared it a distint parrochial community under the patronage of St Joseph.
Irreparable Damages
The relatively novel parish church was consecrated by Archbishop Mauro Carauna on 30 January 1921. On 1 July 1923, then, the same Archbishop blessed the first stone of the belltower, while the commissioning of works of art for its establishment flowed steadily. Notwithstanding, history was not kind with this communal place of worship. Indeed, it suffered major damages by enemy bombing on 10 April 1942. The long list of losses included the titular statue of St Joseph.
Present Church
Following the end of World War II, the majority of the Kalkara community manifested a wish for the reconstruction of their parish church in a more prominent location. To this effect, Archbishop Michael Gonzi purchased a plot of land in the centre of the bay and donated it to the Kalkara Parish. The plan of the new edifice was drawn up by Vincenzo Bonello and Ä użè D’Amato, while the first stone was blessed by Archbishop Gonzi and laid in October 1946. Works progressed at a steady pace, and the blessing and official opening of the new parish church were held on 7 September 1952. The same Archbishop consecrated the new church on 12 December 1954, whereas the dome was completed and inaugurated by 30 June 1962.
The Façade
The façade comprises three bays, each perforated by a door. The central section consists of two tiers, namely a colonnaded portico and an overlying open balcony. The verticality of this composition is further accentuated by the crowning triangular pediment and by the much lower abutting bays. Likewise, the church’s front elevation is lifted to a new level, thanks to the fronting parvis and imposing stairs. The belltower included in the original scheme was not implemented.
The Church Interior
Following the traditional Latin cross plan, the church comprises an aisle, two transepts and a choir. The former is organised in three bays and features two rows of columns supporting an architrave. Likewise, the pillars at the corners of the presbitery support the towering dome. Described main volume is complemented by abutting side aisles and corresponding chapels on the opposite side of the transept. The list of marble works includes the main altar, the lectern, the pulpit and the pavement.
Works of Art
Although relatively new, the Parish Church of St Joseph amassed a significant corpus of works of art. This includes the main statue and underlying pedestal produced by Ferdinando Stuflesser from Ortisei in 1948, and paintings by Giuseppe Calì, Filippo Venuti, Attilio Palombi and Lazzaro Pisani.
Milestones
1897: establishment of Kalkara Parish
1942: infliction of extensive damages by enemy bombing
1946: blessing of new church’s first stone
1952: completion of new church
1954: consecration of new Church
1962: inauguration of dome
