The first church in honour to St Margaret Virgin and Martyr in the neighbourhood of Bormla dates back to 1563. This was razed to the ground and reconstructed a few metres afar during the early 18th century as part of the second phase of the Santa Margherita Lines. To this effect, the Order allocated 400 scudi and a plot for the purpose. The transfer agreement was drawn by notary Giocchino Grixti on 21 July 1719, while master mason Antonio Azzopardi was entrusted with the construction of the new church. The project was successfully completed the following year, but its consecration was officiated by Bishop Vincenzo Labini in 1787. The belltower was erected in 1856.

The Monastery

In 1726, two pious priests puchased an adjoining house to host the Conservatory of Jesus and Mary for the young ladies who wished to model their lives on Teresian spirituality. By 9 November, an initial cohort of six youths joined the newly set up Conservatory under the leadership of its first superior, Maria Madalena Purselli. The community grew exponentially, and the abutting property was acquired to accommodate the new recruits. Meanwhile, Grand Master Antonio Manoel De Vilhena financed the resultant reconstruction and enlargement works. By 28 October 1731, the Conservatory of Jesus and Mary metamorphosed into a cloistered Convent of the Carmelite Teresian Third Order. On 12  September 1739, then, it was elevated to Monastery of the Carmelite Terisian Second Order, and started to be known as the Monastery of St Margaret.

The Façade

The church façade is seamlessly integrated in the austere composition of the monastery’s exterior elevation, but is nonetheless demarcated by a Baroque portico. This exquisite projection consits of an arched central and two flanking square-headed openings, and bears close similarities with a corresponding structure gracing St Catherine Church in Valletta. The fronting parvis and elegant flight of steps leading up from street level further accentuate its playful articulation. Likewise, the adjoining plain spans of the façade are somehow rendered interesting thanks to the fine moulding of the respective openings and the remarkable workmanship of the ironwork.

Church Interior

The internal volume is fashioned in a ribbed vault adorned with three altars. The main altarpiece shows Our Lady and Baby Jesus in the company of St Theresa of Jesus, St John of the Cross and St Margaret Virgin and Martyr. It was painted by Francesco Zahra in 1758, and is flanked by paintings of St Joseph and St Francis of Paola respectively. The two lateral altars are dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and St Francis Xavier. As expected, the side elevation of the presbitery is linked to an adjoining spacious room via a window opening. This room serves as choir for the cloistered sisters. The inquilines of the monastery could also access the church through the higher balcony placed above the door. The underlying balcony was intended for the musicians animating the liturgy.

Milestones

1563: building of first church dedicated to St Margaret in the area

1714: demolition of first church in view of the implementation of the second phase of the Margherita Lines

1720:  building of present church

1726: foundation of Jesus and Mary Conservatory

1731: metamorphoses of Conservatory into a Cloistered Convent of the Carmelite Teresian Third Order

1739: elevation to Monastery of the Carmelite Terisian Second Order

1787: consecration of church

1940: relocation of cloistered nuns to Mdina to avoid the dangers of enemy bombing

1944: return of community from Mdina

2000: extensive restoration project and installation of marble table-altar