Safeguarding the Church's architectural heritage

Throughout the course of Maltese history the local Church has been one of the most enlightened patrons of the arts, be it in the realm of painting, sculpture or architecture. The resplendent Baroque churches and chapels are to this day distinctive architectural landmarks that characterise our towns and villages.

Architects of the calibre of Francesco Buonamici (1596-1677), Lorenzo Gafá (1639-1703) and Giovanni Barbara (1642- 1728) were able, with the support of skilled local master-masons and sculptors, to translate their architectural vision into tangible monuments of places of worship where the Church's presence was visibly manifested in the community's everyday life. Such is the wealth of the Church's architectural legacy that the local ecclesiastical authorities have a very onerous responsibility to ensure that its artistic and architectural patrimony is being conserved and safeguarded to the highest professional standards.

Hence it is regrettable to note that recently there have been a number of physical interventions on ecclesiastical buildings which are, in my opinion, highly dubious and controversial in nature. I will cite a few cases that readily come to mind.

In the case of the St Lawrence parish church in Vittoriosa, Lorenzo Gafá's original bell-tower (the other one being built in 1912) has been totally dismantled and is currently in the process of being entirely reconstructed in new stone. It would be pertinent to inquire as to the necessity of taking such draconian action when it could very well have been possible to restore the original fabric of the bell-tower and replace only the very severely deteriorated stonework.

Professional restoration certainly cannot be equated with whole-scale demolition and reconstruction. That would be a travesty of the modern concept of restoration which puts particular emphasis on establishing a clear distinction between the original and authentic fabric and any new interventions.

One would hope that whoever was responsible for taking such a decision with serious implications would have at the very least consulted local restoration experts to ensure the best course of action.

The second case is the ongoing so-called "restoration" of the façade of the Lija parish church. From the scaffolding that has ominously risen around the church's drum it appears that the dome now seems destined to suffer the same fate as that of the façade where the 300-year old golden patina of its stonework was at somebody's whim summarily "bleached" and "cleaned-up" into the new-look white stonework that is certainly more representative of a modern maisonette in nearby Swatar than that befitting one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture on the island.

I cannot comprehend the reasoning that would have motivated one to consider the removal of the stonework's original patina that had weathered to a wonderful ochre colour. Surrealistically, I can well imagine a painful contortion in the facial expression of the architect Giovanni Barbara as depicted in his portrait that graces the church's sacristy.

The authorities would do well to seek expert advice on the matter as I fear that this could set a dangerous precedent whereby, God forbid, other parishes could consider embarking on the "beautification" of their Baroque churches.

One can cite other more venial sins such as the proliferation of aluminium notice boxes that are at times so unashamedly and insensitively affixed onto the façades of churches and chapels and the metal conduit frameworks with garish and multi-coloured light bulbs that are riveted onto the façades without any respect to the architectural features such as the mouldings and sculptural decoration that are so typical of historic church façades.

There is one common denominator to all the cases cited, that is that these are usually the actions of some over-zealous individuals in possession of very limited cultural baggage and most of the times acting without consulting restoration experts. The ecclesiastical authorities are in duty bound to ensure that the church's architectural heritage is being well conserved and that such conservation is being administered and closely monitored by responsible and diligent experts.

The Church has its own specially appointed commission of experts who are entrusted to authorise and monitor any restoration and/or physical interventions on the Church's historic buildings. It would be pertinent to inquire as to what criteria, if any, were followed in permitting the arbitrary dismantling of the historic bell-tower at the Vittoriosa parish church and the "bleaching/ cleansing" of the façade of the Lija parish church.

The vast majority of historic buildings within the realm of sacred architecture would fall within the direct responsibility and jurisdiction of the local ecclesiastical authorities. Hence, it is of paramount importance that the processes leading to a restoration project be clearly defined and accompanied by a comprehensive restoration method statement drawn up by a recognised restoration expert.

The Church authorities simply cannot permit arbitrary works to be undertaken without serious preparatory studies and without expert consultation. In this respect the governmental authorities and even non-governmental agencies active in the field of conservation can offer professional assistance to the Church so as to ensure that any restoration works being undertaken are in consonance with current restoration methodologies.

As one of the traditional patrons of the arts, the local Church should take a more active and high-profile role in the public appreciation of its rich and diverse artistic heritage. It should also be at the forefront in promoting excellence in the restoration and conservation of its architectural heritage. Any physical interventions on the built fabric should be very well-studied a priori and should respect the historic authenticity of the monument. This entails a serious and professional commitment so as to ensure that the Church will safeguard its architectural heritage for future generations to come.

Dr Thake is author of the book Baroque Churches of Malta and co-authored, with the late Quentin Hughes, Malta - The Baroque Island.