The remains of this church lie several metres below a block of apartments in Triq l-Inkurunazzjoni. Originally, this church stood along the side of a valley that extended from the environs of the Fgura Parish Church, cut across the curtain of St Nicholas (Cottonera Lines), flowed in the direction of St Helen Gate (Santa Margherita Lines) and reached down to a sheltered beach close to present day Gavino Gulia Square. The lower section of the valley consisted of a fertile plain. As a matter of fact, the old toponomy of the area alludes to the presence of extensive orchards. The church, therefore, was hewn into the face of the adjoining shallow cliff. It must have originated as a small cavity that was eventually enlarged to form the extant volume, thereby the appellative ‘troglodytic’ (hewn in the live rock). Besides, the resultant mouth was secured by a stone screen.
The crafting of the Santa Margherita Lines and the expansion of the Bormla urban fabric during the course of the 17th century, changed drastically the configuration of the area. The valley’s floor was raised to link up the neighbourhoods of Gavino Gulia Square and St Helen’s Gate, and, by default, the low-lying troglodytic church was profanated, completely buried, and eventually lost into oblivion. It was thanks to the postwar reconstruction spree that this long forgotten church was rediscovered by chance, and rendered accessible through a dedicated entrance at the foot of an apartment block along Triq l-Inkurunazzjoni.
Present Entrance
The door leading to the stairwell climbing down to the troglodytic church blends in seamlessly with the adjoining façade. The only distinguishing feature is a modest and unpretentious marble plaque carrying a Latin inscription, which roughly translates to: This church, formerly dedicated to Our Lady of Succor and fondly cherished, and after being lost for a significant stretch of time and eventually damaged by enemy bombing, has been rediscovered and preserved by the Maltese in the year of our Lord 1958.
Notwithstanding the specific and exclusive mention of Our Lady of Succor, the dedication of this church could have changed along the centuries.
Interior
The greater part of the extant ruins are hewn in the live rock. It measured 4 by 3.5 metres and was divided in two main parts, namely the sanctuary and the public area. The former occupies the inner half and is demarcated by side pillars and an overlying arch, all hewn in the live rock. Said arch carries the inscription ‘Patrvm Mater Virgo Genvi’, meaning Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ, our inheritance. This inscription seems to have been flanked by two oval medallions, whereas the underlying pillars bear the anchoring marks of a screen, a typical fixture in Late Medieval Early Modern rural churches. Likewise, the sanctuary includes the markings of the titular painting and corresponding paraphernalia.
As expected, sites of the sort light up the imagination of many. Indeed, it was popularly believed that the small opening on the left side lead to a secret passage that linked up to Marsaxlokk.
Milestones
Early 17th century: construction of Santa Margherita Lines, relevelling of valley floor and burial of troglodytic church
1668: perpetual profanation
Late 17th century: lost in oblivion
1946: accidental discovery
1959: crafting of new access
