Malta: Catholics offer support to Anglican Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral spire towers over Valletta skyline

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Gozo, Bishop Mario Grech, in a gesture urging for more unity between Catholics and Anglicans , announced earlier this month that all collections from one Sunday's Masses in Gozo would be donated to the St Paul's Anglican Cathedral's Restoration Appeal - 'Save Valletta's Skyline'.

Towering 200 feet over the seaward approach to Valletta, St Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral in Malta is a vital part of Malta's rich cultural heritage. It pays homage to St Paul who was shipwrecked here in about AD 60 and brought Christianity to Malta.

The fabric of the cathedral is now in dire and urgent need of restoration. Recent architectural inspections have identified severe problems threatening the tower, the spire and external and internal stonework. So an urgent appeal has now been launched to raise €3 million to save this iconic structure, which is one of the most universally recognised features of the Valletta skyline.

St Paul's has strong connections with British royalty. Queen Adelaide, wife of William IV funded the building of the cathedral from the Privy Purse between 1839 and 1844. Her Majesty the Queen, as the then Princess Elizabeth worshipped here with Prince Philip when they lived in Malta between 1949 and 1951 and they have returned on numerous occasion since then, including state visits in 1967, 1992 and 2015. HRH the Duke of Edinburgh remains Patron of the Friends of the Cathedral today.

Equally strong are the connections to members of the British, Commonwealth and Maltese units of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Marines and Royal Airforce - who fought to defend Malta in two world wars and have served here since in peacetime.

Although Malta is strongly Roman Catholic, the Restoration Appeal Committee is made up of important and influential Maltese and foreign residents in Malta and is under the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency, Marie Louise Preca, President of Malta and His Grace the Archbishop of Malta. The committee is co-chaired by Sir Martin Laing and Martin Scicluna, who is a past President of Din l'Art Helwa, the National Trust of Malta. The campaign approach is ecumenical, historical and cultural and is being backed by all Christian denominations, both Maltese and British - and those passionate about the conservation of Malta's heritage.

It is hoped that the restoration will start as soon as possible so that this important Grade 1 listed building will continue to be open during Valletta's 'European Capital of Culture' celebrations in 2018; and will be completed by November 2019, the 175th Anniversary of the consecration of the cathedral.

St Paul's Pro-Cathedral is one of three cathedrals in the Anglican Diocese in Europe, but has no current endowment and receives no support from the government or Church of England. The congregation meets the annual running and maintenance cost, but cannot fund major works.

Sterling donations can be made via the Just Giving website which includes Gift Aid for UK Taxpayers. Or cheques payable to the 'Diocese in Europe (St Paul's Restoration Appeal)' and mailed to: Finance Officer, Diocese in Europe, 14 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3QZ. Gift Aid forms may be downloaded from their website.

Payment in euros may be made by cheque to "St Paul's Anglican Restoration Appeal" and mailed to the St Paul's Cathedral, Independence Square, Valletta VLT 1535, Malta.

For further information, visit www.savethecathedral.com