- Probable construction: 1757
- Founder: traditionally attributed to Giovanni (Ġwanni) Portelli
- Bell: dated 1792
- Key restoration: titular painting restored in 2007
- Type: private vow chapel serving a coastal rural area
Location Map Coordinates 35.935435, 14.458401
Historical background and foundation
The Chapel of St John the Evangelist stands near Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq within the limits of Naxxar. According to local historical tradition, the chapel was founded as the result of a vow made by Giovanni Portelli, a landowner in the area.
The narrative recounts that Portelli escaped danger from corsairs who landed in the bay. In gratitude for his deliverance, he vowed to build a chapel dedicated to his patron saint, St John the Evangelist. This type of vow chapel is typical of 18th-century Malta, especially in exposed coastal and rural locations.
Construction and architectural form
The year 1757 appears on the titular painting inside the chapel and is generally accepted as the most reliable indication for the date of construction and decoration. The chapel has a compact square plan and is built in local limestone.
It is surmounted by a small dome, above which rises a lantern housing a bell dated 1792. The façade is simple and symmetrical, with a central doorway, a small window above it, and a niche containing a statue of St John the Evangelist.
Interior, art and patronage
The interior contains an 18th-century titular painting depicting St John the Evangelist. Although unsigned, stylistic analysis suggests it may belong to the artistic circle of Francesco Zahra, one of Malta’s leading Baroque painters.
Heraldic shields associated with the Portelli family are visible within the chapel, confirming the role of private patronage in its construction and decoration.
Restoration and conservation
In 2007, the titular painting underwent a nine-month professional restoration carried out by conservator Alfred Scicluna. The project was coordinated by Youth Alive under the direction of Fr Mark Ciantar, OFM, with sponsorship from the Bank of Valletta.
The restoration returned the painting to its original setting and formed part of wider voluntary efforts to safeguard the chapel and its immediate surroundings.
Use and devotional traditions
Traditionally, Mass was celebrated in the chapel on the feast of St John the Evangelist and on other selected occasions, notably the feast of St Lawrence on 10 August. Following Mass, almonds were distributed to the faithful, reflecting a long-standing local custom.
Today the chapel is not regularly used for liturgical services, but it remains an important devotional and historical landmark within the coastal landscape of Naxxar.
