This is the main altar of the Church of St Augustine which is in Old Bakery Street, c/w St Mark Street, Valletta. The church is the third and latest parish in Valletta. It was ordained as a parish on 21st January, 1968.
The church and convent know their beginning to 7th January 1765 when the first stone of the church was laid. Because of lack of funds, the church was completed in 1794, only 4 years before Malta fell to the French. The French ordered the Augustinian monks and also those of other orders out of Valletta and the church was despoiled of all its riches. The Augustine monks returned to their Valletta convent in 1800 after the French had to surrender to the Maltese, aided by the British under Lord Nelson. Restoration works began immediately after.
During WWII, the crypt of the church served as a shelter for enemy bombings to many people who chose to remain in Valletta. Many of them also slept in there during the night. The convent annexed to the church was hit by enemy bombs and suffered severe damage.
The day was very dull and wet this morning and I did not go out for my daily walk. I regretted it because the weather cleared up later. Yesterday, we had a freak hailstorm which wasn’t even forecasted. According to the local news in some areas (not ours) the hailstones were as big as a tennis ball. They caused some damage to cars and window panes.
Thank you very much for looking and for your wonderful comments on yesterday’s picture.
Enjoyed the history behind the picture. I have just finished reading a historical novel of the late 1700 of American/British conflict and over in Malta they too were fighting...where is there peace
