First recorded in 1575 and rebuilt in 1658, Kappella tas-Salvatur is a historic Qrendi chapel known today for quiet prayer and Eucharistic adoration.
Overview
Kappella tas-Salvatur (also called the Chapel of Christ the Saviour or the
Chapel of the Transfiguration of Jesus) is a Roman Catholic chapel in Qrendi. It is one of the village’s best-documented
small chapels, with a clear line of references from the 16th century onwards and a complete rebuilding in the mid-17th century.
Key dates (at a glance)
9 Feb 1575: first recorded during Mgr Pietro Dusina’s pastoral visitation (noted as the first chapel he visited in Qrendi).
1618 & 1621: referenced during visits by Bishop Baldassare Cagliares.
1636: recorded again by Bishop Miguel Juan Balaguer Camarasa.
1658: present chapel built on the same site, at the expense of Beneditto Camilleri.
1876: stone gallery/balcony added above the entrance (date carved on pillars).
Early 1960s: used as a parish hall for meetings and catechesis.
Late 1990s: major restoration returned it to devotional use; the interior ceiling decoration was restored.
History
Recorded in 1575 (Dusina’s visitation)
The earliest clear documentary mention comes from Mons. Pietro Dusina’s apostolic visitation.
On 9 February 1575, Dusina visited the chapel and described it as having a single altar, with
little else in terms of furnishings—partly because the chapel had no income and therefore no rector to maintain it.
Local devotion persisted, however: accounts name a resident, Vincentius Aquilina, as occasionally funding Mass
and vespers on the feast day.
17th-century visitations and the decision to rebuild
The chapel appears again in early 17th-century ecclesiastical records. Bishops Baldassare Cagliares (1618, 1621)
and Miguel Juan Balaguer Camarasa (1636) recorded the chapel’s continuing presence. Later, during Balaguer’s
wider apostolic visitation of Qrendi (1656–1659), it was described as a new building—indicating the earlier structure had been
replaced.
The present chapel (1658)
Most summaries agree that the current chapel was built in 1658 on the same site, financed by
Beneditto Camilleri. Parish sources further note arrangements to ensure feast-day liturgy (Mass and vespers)
through benefaction and clerical oversight.
Lost titular painting and indulgence tradition
Parish notes describe an earlier oval painting of Christ the Saviour once associated with the chapel, with an indulgence granted
by Bishop Vincenzo Labini (1780–1807) for prayers said before the image; the painting is now described as untraceable.
Wikipedia likewise notes that earlier altar paintings are no longer present/known.
Architecture and notable features
Façade and plan
Tas-Salvatur is a compact village chapel built in limestone, typical of rural Maltese chapels rebuilt in the 1600s—simple massing,
a single altar, and a restrained exterior that prioritises devotion over display.
The 1876 gallery
A distinctive interior element is the stone gallery above the main door, supported by pillars and bearing the date
1876. Sources note that, because of the chapel’s small size, access was traditionally by ladder.
Ceiling decoration
The ceiling is noted for floral decorative painting, which was restored during late-1990s works.
Rear corbels
Parish documentation highlights protruding stone corbels on the rear elevation, interpreted as a historic way to access (or control access to) the roof
while discouraging unauthorised climbing.
Restoration and present-day use
Parish hall period (1960s)
In the early 1960s the chapel was used as a parish hall for prayer meetings, religious education and fundraising.
Local memory also places the chapel steps within a busy village node that served as a meeting point and transport terminus area.
Late-1990s restoration and return to devotion
Sources describe a comprehensive restoration in the late 1990s (reported as 1997 in some references and
1999 in parish documentation), returning the chapel to its original devotional character and enabling regular quiet prayer.
Eucharistic adoration
The Archdiocese’s listing of adoration chapels includes Kappella tas-Salvatur (Qrendi) with scheduled opening hours for adoration
(as listed by the Archdiocese).
Visiting notes
Navigation: use the coordinates above for the most accurate point location.
Etiquette: modest dress and respectful silence are recommended, especially during prayer/adoration.
Photography: be mindful if the chapel is open for worship.
